Written Answers Nos. 181-187
181. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review entitlement to a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who was only recently awarded a general practitioner visit card despite being dependent of social welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39879/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
182. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a child (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a date for an operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39881/13]
View answerThe management of inpatient and daycase waiting lists for patients awaiting public health care is based on the principle that after urgent and cancer patients are treated, then clinically assessed routine patients should be seen in chronological order (i.e. longest waiter first).
Should the patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he/she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved.
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.
183. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will issue a long-term illness card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39882/13]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the Long Term Illness Scheme. Therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
184. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [39894/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
185. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an application for a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will expedite a response. [39897/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
186. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if he will insist on an early date for a cataract operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny [39901/13]
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 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.
187. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that Cheeverstown's early intervention speech and language therapist will be leaving their position; if and when they will be replaced; the action he will take to ensure there is no gap or reduction in the delivery of speech and language therapy to the young children availing of the service. [39904/13]
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.
