Brendan Griffin
Question:201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of deaths annually in Ireland due to Sudden Adult Death Syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42890/13]
View answerSudden Adult Death Syndrome
Questions (201)
Written answers
This matter has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
Sudden Adult Death Syndrome
Questions (202, 203)
Brendan Griffin
Question:202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of people in Ireland who may be unwittingly vulnerable to sudden adult death syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42891/13]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:203. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce screening to identify persons at high risk of sudden adult death syndrome; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42892/13]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 202 and 203 together.
The Report of the Task Force on Sudden Cardiac Death (2006) estimated that approximately 5,000 cardiac deaths are sudden cardiac deaths. These are due to coronary heart disease, valvular heart disease or other cardiac abnormalities. Whilst it recommended prevention strategies for coronary heart disease, it did not do so for mass population screening for sudden cardiac death, but rather the identification of priority groups such as close relatives of those who died from sudden cardiac death under 40 years of age for risk assessment. The National Cardiovascular Health Policy (2010) has endorsed these recommendations.
The HSE is the main agency responsible for implementing these recommendations and in its 2010 Progress Report on Sudden Cardiac Death it sets out progress in this area. I have requested that the HSE furnish the Deputy with an update.
Health Services Provision
Questions (204)
Finian McGrath
Question:204. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a person's residential services, use of disability allowance to pay, and if the person has to go to accident and emergency with their health matters (details supplied) in Dublin 9 [42906/13]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Health Services Provision
Questions (205)
Finian McGrath
Question:205. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite physiotherapy in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [42910/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Services
Questions (206)
Finian McGrath
Question:206. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital place in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5 [42912/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (207)
Finian McGrath
Question:207. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 [42915/13]
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 issued to Oireachtas members.
Health Services Expenditure
Questions (208)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the Health Service Executive budget; if there will be a shortfall in the budget; if there will continue to be sufficient funds to pay subvention for elderly persons who require long term residential care in nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42922/13]
View answerWritten answers
It is too early to say whether there will be a shortfall in the HSE budget in 2013.
Significant savings have been required of the health services since the downturn in the economy. The underlying reduction in health spend is over €3bn since 2008, a reduction of 20% in real terms. The number of staff within the health service has reduced by 10% and the population has increased by 8%. Despite this we are still managing to reform and improve the service.
The total budget for long-term residential care in 2013 is €974m. The HSE operates a national placement list to enable it to operate within the budget. All applicants for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme who are approved for funding are put on the national placement list in chronological order by the date of determination of their application. Funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally. The HSE makes every effort to match available funding to demand by releasing funding on a weekly basis.