Written Answers Nos. 216-226
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Written Answers Nos. 216-226
216. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19571/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
217. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if there are vacancies here at present for occupational psychologists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19574/13]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
218. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19581/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible. The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information has recently reissued to Oireachtas members.
219. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant orthopaedic surgeons at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; the number of persons on the waiting list; the average waiting time to see the consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19597/13]
View answerThe 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 the particular queries raised by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
220. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have been refused either a medical card or a general practitioner only card in the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the main reasons for being refused a card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19598/13]
View answerI have asked the Health Service Executive for a report on the issue raised by the Deputy. I will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
221. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the plans that are in place for persons who use the services in a living unit (details supplied) once it closes down; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19611/13]
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.
222. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding home help-home care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [19614/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
223. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be provided with an adult mental health services appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19620/13]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
224. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health if the commitment given to the Happy New Ear campaign to meet with the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, may be prioritised as the matter is one of urgency for the children involved. [19625/13]
View answerThe Minister of State, Ms Kathleen Lynch TD, has indicated that she will meet with Happy New Ear and the group will be contacted shortly in this regard.
225. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the replacement of the Central Mental Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19627/13]
View answerReplacing the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) with an appropriate modern facility is one of the priority health projects set out in the Infrastructure & Capital Investment 2012-2016: Medium Term Exchequer Framework. The Minister for Health announced in November 2011 that the CMH would be located at St Ita’s, Portrane, Co. Dublin. This project includes replacement of the CMH, and also development of associated new facilities. Four regional Intensive Care Rehabilitation Units (ICRUs) are also planned, one of which will be located at Portrane.
The Steering Group for this project is in place and members include representatives from Department of Health, HSE Estates, HSE Service, HSE LHM for Dublin Mid-Leinster, NSUE, Irish Advocacy Network, Central Mental Hospital Carer’s Group, National Development Finance Agency (NDFA) and representatives from the Central Mental Hospital. The Design Team appointed in July 2012 is advancing the design for the project.
226. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the development of the national children's hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19628/13]
View answerThe decision to locate the new children's hospital on the St James's campus was announced on 6 November 2012. Co-location, and ultimately tri-location with a maternity hospital, on the St James's campus will support the provision of excellence in clinical care that our children deserve. The new children’s hospital is a key commitment in the Programme for Government and the largest project within the current Capital Plan.
The National Paediatric Hospital Development Board is the body charged with building the hospital. Following detailed consideration of the project management structures and governance arrangements required to enable delivery of the project as quickly as possible and to the highest quality, I intend to restructure the NPHDB to focus on the core function of planning, designing, building and equipping the new hospital. The new Children’s Hospital Group, which brings together the three existing paediatric hospitals, will now lead on functions relating to service transfer planning, human resource planning, philanthropy etc. which were previously within the remit of the NPHDB.
In line with its core function of building the hospital, the membership of the restructured NPHDB must include the expertise to deal with this very large and complex capital project. The necessary appointments are under consideration and, in the interim, a transitional Board is in place comprising officials from my Department and the HSE, ensuring continued governance and decision-making for the project.
The transitional Board is progressing a number of immediate issues. In this first phase of the project, the focus is on reconciling the brief with the new site, site and site preparation and new procurement processes. A joint group involving the HSE and St James's Hospital are meeting regularly to progress the enabling and decant work required. A shared services group has been established to focus on identifying the facilities which can be shared so as to optimise the build. While much of the work that has been done for the project in its previous location on the Mater site is transferable to the new site, a new design for the new site is required and in this regard a priority now for the NPHDB is the procurement of a new design team. A review of urgent care centre(s) configuration is underway and is expected to be complete within the coming weeks; this is key to finalising the scale of the facilities required on the St James’s campus and informing the design.
It is important to remember that, in addition to a new building, the new children's hospital entails the coming together of three existing paediatric hospitals (Temple Street, Crumlin and Tallaght). I welcome the commitment expressed by the three existing hospitals to becoming a single service well before the new hospital is built and the establishment of the new Children's Hospital Group, involving the three hospitals, is an important step in this regard. The Group will have a non-statutory Board of Direction which will oversee the integration of services across the three hospitals, over time. Dr Jim Browne has been appointed as its Chair, and will work closely with the Chairs of the three existing hospitals, who have welcomed his appointment.
