Written Answers Nos. 637-656
637. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will redesignate Letterkenny General Hospital, County Donegal, by assigning it regional status; and when a decision will be made on the matter. [23896/13]
View answerHospital groups will be required to submit a strategic plan within one year of formation which will outline the group's plan for future services in the group area. The issue raised by the Deputy can be considered in the context of that plan.
638. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a dental appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23905/13]
View answerDental services to children up to 16 years are provided by the Public Dental Service of the HSE. The service is targeted at children at key stages in their development. Children are given dental examinations and any follow-up treatment required at these stages. When required, emergency dental treatment is available to all children up to 16 years. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
639. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card appeal application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23906/13]
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.
640. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Health when an urgent appointment will be made available for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if he can clarify the current waiting times for a public patient and a private patient awaiting appointment to see this consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23992/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time data is available on www.ntpf.ie. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.
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.
641. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the potential regarding plans for the development of the new rehabilitation unit in the Midland Regional Hospital, Mullingar, County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23993/13]
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.
642. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if he will acknowledge that the working conditions and hours of Non-Consultant Hospital Doctors is at a dangerously high level; if he will outline any plans that his Department has to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23999/13]
View answerThe Government is committed to achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive in respect of non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) by 2014. I have emphasised to the HSE the high priority the Government and I attach to this issue, and also the need to address NCHDs working conditions more generally.
The Health Service Executive’s Service Plan for 2013 specifically recognises the need to address EWTD compliance as a priority, stating that there will be a particular focus in the acute hospital service on the achievement of compliance with the European Working Time Directive amongst the non-consultant hospital doctor workforce, in line with the Implementation Plan submitted to the Commission in 2012.
Key priorities for the HSE in 2013 are a reduction of average weekly hours worked and a reduction in the duration of shifts undertaken. The Executive is bringing a strong and particular focus to the achievement of compliance with the Directive. New and demanding targets and timescales have been issued to hospital managers and clinical directors and progress on a site-by-site basis will be assessed against these. The HSE has established a national group chaired by a senior executive to bring a clear and urgent focus to: implementation of the Directive, assessment of performance and site-by-site accountability for change. The HSE is also conscious of the need to implement other measures to improve the working conditions of NCHDs, including protection of training time, the implementation of formal bleep policies and the transfer of tasks often inappropriately undertaken by NCHDs to more appropriate staff.
I am satisfied that the HSE is making every effort to improve the working hours of NCHDs and to implement other measures to improve their working conditions which will in turn facilitate the provision of improved and safer delivery of services to patients.
643. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of appeals received for medical card applications for each month in 2012 in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24000/13]
View answerThe HSE system does not currently record data in the format requested by the Deputy. However, I am advised that, in 2012, 5,620 appeals were received in relation to Medical Cards / GPV Cards, which is an average of 468 per month.
The HSE is in the process of updating their systems for recording appeals cases which, when fully operational, will enable them to provide figures on a monthly basis going forward.
644. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the number of applications received for each month in 2012 for medical cards in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24001/13]
View answerThe table below details the number of Medical Card applications, including new and renewals, received in the HSE Primary Care Reimbursement Services per month for the year 2012.
|
2012 |
Total Applications Received (new & renewal) |
|
January |
61,898 |
|
February |
59,770 |
|
March |
43,953 |
|
April |
25,347 |
|
May |
25,155 |
|
June |
30,636 |
|
July |
40,265 |
|
August |
26,343 |
|
September |
21,370 |
|
October |
23,701 |
|
November |
26,356 |
|
December |
19,654 |
|
Total |
404,448 |
645. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Health when an appointment for assessment will be made for a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in respect of a shoulder operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24012/13]
View answerImproving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Building on work already undertaken by the HSE, the National Treatment Purchase Fund has now taken over the reporting of outpatient waiting time data. For the first time data is available on www.ntpf.ie. The collation and analysis of outpatient waiting time data in a standardised format will reveal the distribution of long waiters across all hospitals. In the first instance, this will allow resources to be targeted towards those patients who are waiting longest and ensure that they are seen and assessed. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has now been set of 12 months for a first time outpatient appointment.
In parallel with reducing the numbers of longest waiters, the SDU will also work with the HSE Clinical Programmes to reform the structure, organisation and delivery of outpatient services to ensure that the right patient is seen and assessed by the right health professional at the right time.
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.
646. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the reason there is no intermediate ambulance care services available in County Clare; if he will consider making these services available; when the review of these services within the mid western region including County Clare will be complete; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24013/13]
View answerA significant reform programme has been underway in recent years in pre-hospital care services, to ensure a clinically driven, nationally co-ordinated system, supported by improved technology. The programme involves a number of measures, including the Performance Improvement Action Plan, development of the intermediate care service (ICS), the trial emergency aeromedical service (EAS), and the NAS Control Centre Reconfiguration Project.
In July 2012, the HSE National Ambulance Service commenced developing non-emergency transport, through a national intermediate care service (ICS) , which is key to resolving bed and clinical management pressures. ICS will allow for safe, planned and timely clinical transfers of inpatients to the most appropriate facility, depending on their acuity and clinical needs. This will allow for beds to be made available for higher acuity admissions through emergency departments. ICS will also release emergency resources for emergency functions, for improved response times and performances in pre-hospital care. To date, ICS has been implemented in Cavan, Castleblayney, South County Dublin, Letterkenny, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Roscommon, Mallow and Bantry. Supported by the 2013 National Service Plan, the NAS intends to expand ICS to Waterford, Cork Tralee, Castlebar and Drogheda and to increase services in Dublin and Galway during 2013.
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.
647. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive provides the necessary funding for the continuation of a counselling service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24038/13]
View answer668. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will provide emergency financial assistance to a counselling service (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24248/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 647 and 668 together.
As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
648. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health with reference to available State supports for provision of services to adults who live with autism, if he will identify funding avenues that may be supportive of a programme of regular walking that would be available, for example, to a 58 year old persons with autism who lives with elderly parents; if the State will endorse the development of such programmes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24048/13]
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.
649. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in updating the Misuse of Drugs Regulations to deal with the street trading of benzodiazepines and z-drugs and the escalating problem of the use of anabolic steroids; and when he expects these regulations to come into effect. [24057/13]
View answerSignificant work has been undertaken on the drafting of four Statutory Instruments under the Misuse of Drugs Act with a view to, amongst other issues, introducing additional controls on certain prescription drugs being traded illicitly, including benzodiazepine medicines and z-drugs, and making it an offence to import anabolic steroids other than for medical purposes.
It is planned to finalise the draft Instruments shortly and publish these on the Department’s website as part of a written consultation process. This will be followed by a 3 month EU notification period required under the Technical Standards Directive because of the implications of the proposed regulatory changes on trade in pharmaceutical products. Government approval will then be sought to amend the legislation.
650. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a progress report on the proposed new alternative scheme to the mobility allowance and motorised transport grant; if he will assure persons who are in receipt of the mobility allowance that they will continue to receive this support after the end of June 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24058/13]
View answer665. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health when he expects to be in receipt of the project group's recommendations in relation to alternatives to the mobility allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24229/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 665 together.
The Government is very conscious of the needs of people with a disability. The payment of Mobility Allowance will continue until June. A Project Review Group has been working to seek solutions which do not run counter to the Equal Status Acts. The review will be presented to Government by the end of this month. At this stage, it is not possible to pre-empt the outcome of the review or the decision of the Government. Announcements will be made following a Government decision on the matter.
651. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the current policy of the Health Service Executive with regard to special preschools in County Donegal; the number of preschools operated by the HSE here at present; if the HSE intends to close any of these in the near future; the way the HSE plans to cater for children who would have availed of this service within the mainstream preschool sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24069/13]
View answerThe 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.
652. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding orthodontic treatment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24071/13]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
653. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo had their medical card withdrawn; if all medical information was taken into consideration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24072/13]
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.
654. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health the position regarding discussions with people who are victims of thalidomide; the date on which he will bring forward proposals on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24079/13]
View answerSenior officials from my Department recently met with representatives of the Irish Thalidomide Association. A meeting is also arranged for next week with the Irish Thalidomide Survivors Society. It is my hope that a way forward can be found to progress matters for Irish survivors of thalidomide.
655. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health his views on the rates of suicide in the Traveller community, which seem to be at a much higher level than in the general population, with Traveller men six times more likely to die through suicide and Traveller women five times more likely to die through suicide than the general population; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24081/13]
View answerSuicide is a tragedy that we are constantly working to prevent and we are also working to give more support to the families affected. Dealing with the current high levels of suicide and deliberate self harm is a priority for this Government. Reach Out our National Strategy for Action on Suicide Prevention makes a number of recommendations in relation to fast track referrals to community-based mental health services, effective response to deliberate self harm, training, stigma reduction, etc. Consequently, the HSE's National Office for Suicide Prevention (NOSP) has developed a range of initiatives to support people who are suicidal and also to support their families, friends and peers in recognising and responding appropriately to signs of emotional distress and suicidal thoughts. Area 15 of Reach Out deals with marginalised groups including Travellers.
Suicide within the Traveller community was shown to be a major problem by the findings of the All-Ireland Traveller Health Study which was published in 2010. This study determines Traveller suicide rates to be significantly higher than in the general population.
There has been a significant amount of work done with groups, providing information, conducting training and developing resources. The National Traveller Suicide Awareness Project (NTSAP) is a collaboration of Traveller organisations, the NOSP and Exchange House and it has been at the forefront of promoting awareness within the Traveller community and amongst healthcare providers and a spectrum of support services. Crosscare National Traveller Suicide Awareness Project has been funded by the NOSP and is working to develop a response to the issue of Traveller suicide. The project works directly with around 500 Travellers per year and indirectly through networking at national, regional and local events. The project also provides support in prevention and postvention situations.
In 2012, the project focused on engaging Traveller men as a key priority along with providing ongoing support to groups in developing appropriate responses to address the identified needs. A particular focus on bereavement support was identified along with developing more meaningful relationships with mental health services.
Overall, fourteen men's groups received funding from NOSP in 2012; networking was initiated and awareness was raised pertaining to the work of the project. As well as funding NTSAP and the male Traveller development project the NOSP also funds the delivery of ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) and Safetalk to Traveller groups. All agencies funded by NOSP are required to be available to, and work with, minority groups.
656. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if the medication Pradaxa is available for medical card holders; in the case of a patient who has been prescribed Pradaxa by a consultant cardiologist, the procedure used to ensure that this is issued under the GMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24084/13]
View answerPradaxa is available under the GMS Scheme, the Drug Payment Scheme and other community drugs schemes for the prevention of blood clots in adult patients who have undergone elective hip replacement surgery or elective knee replacement surgery.
Pradaxa has also been approved for the extended indication of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation as a second line therapy in circumstances where warfarin may not be appropriate. When a patient requires access to this product, an application form for reimbursement approval must be completed by the physician responsible for the patient's anticoagulation and forwarded to the Primary Care Reimbursement Service for prior approval.
