Tuesday, 9 Jul 2013

Written Answers Nos. 499-514

Health Services Provision

Questions (499)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

499. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33049/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Medical Card Eligibility

Questions (500)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

500. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the reason persons (details supplied) in County Mayo have had their full medical cards revoked and have been issued with general practitioner visit cards despite the fact that following the renewal of these cards 18 months ago, they were provided with full GMS cards which have a valid date until November 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33057/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 issued to Oireachtas members.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (501)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

501. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33079/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 issued to Oireachtas members.

Question No. 502 answered with Question No. 479.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (503)

Billy Timmins

Question:

503. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 559 of 18 June 2013, the position regarding an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33093/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The 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 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 again asked the Health Service Executive to investigate the situation and respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Hospital Appointment Delays

Questions (504)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

504. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a hospital appointment will be offered to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is epileptic and currently waiting to see a specialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33095/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.

In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, regarding an appointment at Tallaght Hospital, as this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (505)

Seán Kenny

Question:

505. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the number of persons on each waiting list to see each speciality at Temple Street Children's Hospital, Dublin 1; the average waiting time to see each speciality; the active steps being taken to reduce the waiting times; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33106/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

Improving access to outpatient services is a key priority for the Government. Collaborating with individual hospitals, the SDU, together with the National Treatment Purchase Fund (NTPF) and the HSE, has developed the outpatient waiting list minimum dataset. This allows data to be submitted to the NTPF from hospitals on a weekly basis and, for the first time, outpatient data is available on www.ntpf.ie. For 2013, a maximum waiting time target has been set of 12 months for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE service plan. The SDU and the NTPF will work closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.

In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (506)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

506. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the change in outpatient waiting lists between the end of March 2013 and the end of May 2013, if he will supply in tabular format for each reporting hospital the total numbers waiting at 28 March 2013; the numbers on the 28 March waiting list who received an appointment; the numbers on the 28 March waiting list who were offered an appointment but declined it; the numbers on the 28 March waiting list who were no longer available for an appointment; the number of new entrants to the list between 28 March and 31 May 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33110/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.

Hospital Admissions

Questions (507)

Arthur Spring

Question:

507. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive has a record of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry being admitted to casualty in Kerry General Hospital in August or September 2012; if there is a record of an ambulance being called to their residence; if a follow up visit, an appointment for an MRI or referral to a consultant was advised by medical staff in the hospital at the time of admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33122/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (508)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

508. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health when a person changes doctor who has the responsibility of seeking the person's medical records; and the recourse available to them if they are having difficulty in obtaining these records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33124/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

Under the General Medical Services (GMS) General Practitioner (GP) Capitation Contract, when a patient transfers from one GP's list to another, Clause 22 states that "the former medical practitioner shall, subject to the written consent of the person (or in the case of a child, his parent) give to the second medical practitioner a summary of the medical history and condition of the patient." If a patient's files have not yet been received by their new GP and they are having difficulty in obtaining these records, they should contact their HSE Local Health Office.

Under the Data Protection Acts, where an individual is a private patient of a GP, the GP is the Data Controller in respect of his/her medical records and not the HSE. The private patient has a right, under Section 4 of the Data Protection Acts, to access their data, but does not have a right to obtain the actual file. If a private patient wishes to transfer to another GP, they could request a copy of their medical records to be sent to their new GP. However, the former GP is entitled to retain custody of the file for medico-legal and other professional requirements.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (509)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

509. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will reinstate the free provision of overnight blood pressure monitors for medical card holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33125/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The current GMS capitation contract is based on a contract agreement first introduced in 1989. It sets out the duties and obligations of the contracted registered medical practitioner in broad terms. While the contract would not have envisaged the deployment of 24 hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring technology as a standard feature of the range of services available in the primary care setting, it did become more commonly available in the years subsequent to the introduction of the capitation contract. Some GPs did not charge for supplying a 24 hour BP monitor to medical card patients whilst others charged a fee of €40-€50.  In comparison, the charge for BP monitoring in one of Dublin's private hospitals is €165.

Consultation fees charged by general practitioners outside the terms of the GMS contract are a matter of private contract between the clinicians and the patients. While I have no role in relation to such fees, I would expect clinicians to have regard to the overall economic situation in setting their fees.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (510)

Michael Lowry

Question:

510. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health the maximum number of hours available to a person requiring round the clock care under the home care package in each Health Service Executive area; the reason for the discrepancy in this figure; his views on whether this is fair; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33128/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Home Help Service Provision

Questions (511)

Noel Harrington

Question:

511. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Health the total number of hours provided in the home help service in each of the last three years and the projected number of hours to be provided this year in west Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33138/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Question No. 512 answered with Question No. 472.

Primary Care Centres Provision

Questions (513)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

513. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health his plans for a primary care centre for Dublin's inner city in view of the fact that the site has been secured; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33141/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The delivery of primary care infrastructure is a dynamic process and must take account of changing circumstances including the feasibility of implementing the delivery of the centres by means of lease, direct- build or PPP. GP engagement and agreement to deliver services from primary care centres is central to the delivery of the necessary infrastructure. The location in question in Dublin's inner city is one of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres for development by way of PPP as announced in the July 2012 Infrastructure Stimulus Package. The HSE is currently finalising suitable sites including agreements to purchase where necessary and assessing GP engagement at each location to determine their interest in participating in the primary care centre development. While it is not possible, at this time, to give start and completion dates for any of the individual 20 potential locations, the best estimate is that these primary care centres will be completed by late 2016.

Mental Health Services Provision

Questions (514)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

514. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the efforts he is making to address the shortage of acute child psychiatric services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32595/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

When A Vision for Change was published in 2006, there were 49 Child and Adolescent Community Mental Health (CAMH) Teams and 12 dedicated Acute In-Patient beds for children. Today, there are 61 Community based (CAMH) teams and 39 Acute In-Patient beds nationally. A further 8 beds will be commissioned in Cork and a further 5 beds will re-open in Galway by year end. The second phase of the Child and Adolescent Unit at St. Vincent's Hospital, Fairview will increase capacity from 12 to 18 beds in Dublin by the end of 2013. Increased bed capacity reflects an almost 60% decrease in admissions of children to adult units since 2008.

Mental health service delivery for children or adolescents is based on Community Mental Health Teams. In this regard, 150 additional posts were allocated to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Teams in 2012, and a further 80 posts were allocated for this specific service area in 2013. Such initiatives are underpinned by the special allocation of €70 million to develop mental health over this, and last, year and do not therefore reflect, in reality, a wind down of mental health provision overall. I understand that 109 of these posts have either been filled, or have a start date shortly, and that recruitment of the balance of the new posts remains a priority within the HSE. The Deputy will appreciate that the Executive has responsibility for the delivery of services at local level, including the need to address evolving services pressures in the context of overall resources. I will, obviously, continue to closely monitor implementation of this important initiative over the remainder of this year.