Written Answers Nos. 677-697
677. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health if he will introduce an independent appeals process to afford nursing homes the opportunity to address the Health Information and Quality Authority's judgments and conditions. [25695/13]
View answerThe Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is the independent Authority established to drive continuous improvement in Ireland’s health and social care services. The Authority’s mandate extends across the quality and safety of the public, private (within its social care function) and voluntary sectors. HIQA has statutory responsibility for
- Setting Standards for Health and Social Services,
- Social Services Inspectorate,
- Monitoring Healthcare Quality,
- Health Technology Assessment,
- Health Information.
The functions of HIQA are defined in the Act and the Authority operates within a set of values and Codes of Conduct. In this regard the Authority has a complaints procedure for persons or organisations who may have complaints about employees or practices of the Authority. Information regarding the complaints procedure may be found at www.hiqa.ie.
Since the introduction of the registration and inspection regime for the nursing home sector in 2009 there have been relatively few appeals, formal or informal, in respect of the Authority’s inspection or enforcement activity. This is set in the context of the registration of over 570 designated centres and in excess of 2,500 inspection reports. In addition the Ombudsman (Amendment) 2012 extended the remit of the Office of the Ombudsman to over 180 additional public bodies, including HIQA. From 1 May 2013 the Ombudsman can examine complaints from members of the public about the administrative actions of these bodies. In this context the establishment of an additional formal independent appeals process for the nursing home sector is not considered necessary.
678. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the numbers on the outpatient waiting list for ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology and orthopaedics at Waterford Regional Hospital at 30 April 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; if he will detail same for each of the past six months on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25771/13]
View answer679. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the numbers of patients seen in the ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology and orthopaedics outpatient clinics at Waterford Regional Hospital at 30 April 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013; if he will detail same for each of the past six months on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25772/13]
View answer680. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of ear, nose and throat, ophthalmology and orthopaedics procedures carried out at Waterford Regional Hospital for each of the years 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; if he will detail same for each of the past six months on a monthly basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25773/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 678 to 680, inclusive, together.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
681. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he will update Dáil Éireann on the proposed single all-island paediatric cardiac surgical service that may be provided from Our Lady's Children's Hospital in Dublin with support from the Royal Victoria Hospital for Sick Children in Belfast; if he will describe funding arrangements that may underpin a new service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25783/13]
View answerSince September 2012 there has been intensive consultation between the Department of Health, Health Service Executive, Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital and the Northern Irish Authorities on the provision of an all-island cardiac surgery service for children. The number of Northern Irish cases is estimated to be 120 surgical cases per year. Even if the majority of Northern Irish cardiac surgery patients are transferred within the United Kingdom it is accepted that there may be an ongoing requirement for up to 30 emergency/urgent cardiac surgery cases a year to be referred to Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital. This is because for some patients, the need for surgical intervention is so critically urgent, that air transport to another UK centre would be inappropriate.
In Northern Ireland there is a desire that at least some services continue to be delivered in Belfast for paediatric cardiac patients, and the options for this are being explored by both sides. Discussions are planned this week on the clinical aspects of the proposed services, after which it is expected that the proposals will be put to the Ministers North and South for agreement, with a view to putting the agreed services in place as soon as possible. Resources can currently be put in place in Crumlin Hospital for the services to begin ramping up at the end of 2013, with the full service in place in 2014. The funding arrangements for the proposed services have not been finalised, and as such I cannot go into detail on the matter at this time.
682. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [25798/13]
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.
683. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on a review of a medical card. [25799/13]
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.
684. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [25800/13]
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.
685. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [25801/13]
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.
687. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the case of a hip replacement in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25850/13]
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 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.
688. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive policy in relation to the provision of respisense monitors for newborns; if these are available across all HSE areas and to all newborns or if there are restrictions on same; the information campaign employed to ensure that appropriate HSE staff and eligible parents are aware of this availability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25878/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
689. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his plans to include haemochromatosis on the list of eligible conditions covered by the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25886/13]
View answer696. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health the medical conditions that qualify a person for the long-term illness scheme; if he will consider adding maple syrup urine disorder to the list of illnesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25951/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 689 and 696 together.
The conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme are as follows: acute leukaemia; mental handicap; cerebral palsy; mental illness (in a person under 16); cystic fibrosis; multiple sclerosis; diabetes insipidus; muscular dystrophies; diabetes mellitus; Parkinsonism; epilepsy; phenylketonuria; haemophilia; spina bifida; hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines. In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
690. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he will hold an investigation into the lack of resources available to the ambulance services in County Meath and the resultant threat to patient safety. [25887/13]
View answerA significant reform programme has been underway in recent years in pre-hospital care services across the country, including the North East, 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 National Ambulance Service (NAS) Control Centre Reconfiguration Project.
The NAS is taking steps to addressing challenges nationally such as reliance on on-call rostering, geography, resourcing and the use of emergency ambulances for routine transport. The move from on-call to on-duty rostering for ambulance services is a key part of improving the service as highly trained paramedic crews are on site in their stations or vehicles to respond immediately to dispatches. The NAS is also developing non-emergency transport, the national intermediate care service (ICS), for routine clinical transfers of patients, freeing ambulances for emergency responses.
In relation to the query raised by the Deputy in relation to ambulance services specifically in the Meath area, as these are operational issues for the HSE I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy.
691. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health the number of children and young persons aged under 18 years waiting for the fitting of dental braces by the Health Service Executive in Dublin 15; if he will outline in tabular form, each treatment waiting list category, including a written explanation and definition for each category; the number of persons awaiting treatment in each category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25889/13]
View answerThe HSE has commissioned an independent review of orthodontic services. The outcome of this review will give guidance as to what changes will be desirable to provide the best possible model of care delivery, given the current resources available and future demand for services. It is anticipated that a report for consideration by the HSE and the Department of Health will be ready by the end of the 2nd Quarter of 2013. The HSE has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy regarding orthodontic waiting lists in Dublin 15.
692. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Health if he proposes that the EC patient mobility directive will be transposed into Irish law this year by primary legislation or by statutory instrument; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25895/13]
View answerI understand that the Deputy is referring to the EU Directive on the Application of Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare. The purpose of this Directive is to establish a clear legal framework to facilitate cross border health care with a focus on patient rights, information for patients on entitlements and patient choice. The Directive deals with complex issues, both nationally and between Member States, and work continues on the preparation of proposals for legislation. At this time it is not possible to be specific regarding dates for such legislation but details will be announced in due course.
693. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the way Ehler's Danlos syndrome is diagnosed and classified here; the incidence rate here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25918/13]
View answerEhler's Danlos syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disorder which effectives the joints, skin and blood vessels. It causes joints to be flexible and unstable, skin that tears easily and fragile blood vessels. There are a number of genetic mutations that give rise to the condition. Incidence data for Ireland is not available however international evidence for some of the gene mutations indicates incidence rates from between 1 in 10,000 to 1 in 250,000 people. Diagnostic tests typically include genetic testing, skin biopsies, cardiac evaluation and other biochemical tests. The treatments are mainly palliative to reduce the complications from the condition. These include both medical treatments and sometimes surgery for joint instability. My Department is developing a rare disease plan which will be finalised later this year and deals with the diagnosis, management and information relating to rare diseases.
695. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive will consider reimbursing moneys paid for prescription medication per the approval of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25950/13]
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.
697. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if a grant for road improvement will be made available to Kerry County Council. [25111/13]
View answerThe improvement and maintenance of regional and local roads is the statutory responsibility of each local authority, in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 of the Roads Act 1993. Works on those roads are funded from local authorities own resources supplemented by State road grants. The initial selection and prioritisation of works to be funded is also a matter for the local authority.
I announced the 2013 regional and local road grant allocations on 25th January this year. A total of €350 million is being provided under the Regional and Local Roads Investment Programme this year. From that overall total, Kerry County Council is being provided with an allocation of approximately €14.2 million.
