Gerry Adams
Question:214. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the national ambulance service has signed off on a national transfer policy and if so, the date it was signed. [21946/13]
View answerAccident and Emergency Services Provision
Questions (214, 215)
Gerry Adams
Question:215. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there is at present a freeze on all transfers within the national ambulance service to the north west pending the outcome of a forthcoming Labour Court hearing. [21947/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together.
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Accident and Emergency Services Provision
Questions (216)
Gerry Adams
Question:216. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service singed up to the Health Service Executive family friendly policy. [21948/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Speech and Language Therapy
Questions (217)
Pat Deering
Question:217. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in speech therapy in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Carlow. [21962/13]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (218)
Áine Collins
Question:218. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 702 of 16 April 2013 (details supplied) his views on the matter. [21965/13]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE recognises the importance of home help and home care in supporting older persons to live in their own homes and communities, in accordance with Government policy. The 2013 National Service Plan includes the provision of 10.3 million hours of home help service, the same level as planned for in 2012. The number of hours worked by home helps varies according to service needs, given that the home help service requires a unique set of arrangements to achieve the level of flexibility required. On 29 June 2012, the Labour Court recommended that the HSE and SIPTU should engage in relation to matters concerning the contracts of home helps. Subsequently, on 16th October 2012, it identified mechanisms to define specified hours and protocols to be followed where specified hours are not met as issues to be addressed. At a further hearing on 12th December 2012, it noted that management proposals to deal with these issues would be encompassed in a comprehensive delivery model for home help services.
The parties subsequently met on a number of occasions under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission, most recently on 30th April. While significant progress was made on a range of contractual matters including those identified by the Labour Court, the Commission is to refer a number of outstanding issues to the Labour Court.
Health Information and Quality Authority Issues
Questions (219)
Mary Lou McDonald
Question:219. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the plans in place to ensure permanent advocacy for women in institutionalised settings in their places of residence in view of the 2010 Health Information and Quality Authority inspection of one such setting which found that some institutional practices were observed which require to be reviewed, these include empowering residents to make decisions and choices in their daily lives, reviewing the form of addresses used and ensuring the confidentiality of residents' information [21968/13]
View answerWritten answers
The introduction of legislation in relation to persons requiring assisted decision-making falls within the remit of the Minister for Justice and Equality. Under the Health Act 2007, statutory responsibility is given to the Chief Inspector of Social Services, part of the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), for the independent inspection and registration of certain categories of designated centres. This includes residential care settings for older people. This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising the Health Act 2007, the Health Act 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009, as amended, the Health Act 2007 (Registration of Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations 2009 and the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.
All nursing homes for older people, whether public, private or voluntary, are subject to the same core standards in relation to quality and safety. HIQA carry out inspections across the nursing home sector to ensure that these Standards are being met and that residents are receiving the best possible care. Regulation 10 of the Care and Welfare Regulations deals specifically with residents' rights, dignity and consultation. With regard to the National Quality Standards there are 32 standards under 7 groupings, Rights, Protection, Health and Social Needs, Quality of Life, Staffing, The Care Environment and Governance and Management. They are patient-centred, providing a blueprint for the provision of a higher standard of care delivered against a set of clear and comprehensive criteria.
In the case of the centre referred to by the Deputy, the specific matters were addressed by the Registered Provider and resolved to the satisfaction of the HIQA inspector.
General Medical Services Scheme Administration
Questions (220)
Michael McCarthy
Question:220. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the reasons treatment for a person (details supplied) in County Louth, who suffers from a rare debilitating condition, has had their request for the treatment abroad scheme refused despite strong medical evidence which supports their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21993/13]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
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.