Written Answers Nos. 1094-1114
1095. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; when a medical card will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46138/13]
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.
1096. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the cost of litigation for obstetrics for each of the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46142/13]
View answerObstetric claims against the State are covered by the Clinical Indemnity Scheme which is managed by the State Claims Agency. The total amount spent in respect of obstetric clinical claims for the last three years is as follows:
|
Transaction Year |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 to date |
|
Total Payments in Obstetrics |
€40.8m |
€36m |
€40.4m |
1097. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has been refused a primary care certificate; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46150/13]
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.
1098. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding income limits for the over 70's medical cards. [46154/13]
View answerThe Government recognises that the living costs of an individual living alone are more than half the living costs of a couple living together and this is reflected, inter alia, through the provision of the Living Alone Increase and differential income limits for medical cards for persons aged under 70 years between individuals and couples.
In that context, the over-70s income limit for a single person has been reduced proportionately less than the income limit for a couple.
1099. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will support medical cards for all children who are dying or children with severe disabilities as a matter of priority. [46155/13]
View answer1152. Deputy John Paul Phelan asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to granting full medical cards to all seriously ill children aged 18 and under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46429/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1099 and 1152 together.
Under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, the assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. There is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with a specific illness or disability.
However, under the legislation, there is provision for discretion by the HSE to grant a medical card where a person's income exceeds the income guidelines. The HSE takes a person's social and medical issues into account in determining whether or not "undue hardship" exists for a person in providing a health service for themselves or his or her dependents.
The HSE has an effective system in place for the provision of emergency medical cards for patients who are terminally ill in palliative care, or who are seriously ill and in urgent need of medical care that they cannot afford. They are issued within twenty-four hours of receipt of the required patient details and the letter of confirmation of the condition from a doctor or a medical consultant. With the exception of terminally ill patients in palliative care, the HSE issues all emergency cards on the basis that the patient is eligible for a medical card on the basis of means or undue hardship, and that the applicant will follow up with a full application within a number of weeks of receiving the emergency card. As a result, emergency medical cards are issued to a named individual, with a limited eligibility period of six months.
For persons with a terminal illness in palliative care, no means test applies. Once the terminal illness is verified, patients are given an emergency medical card for six months. Given the nature and urgency of the issue, the HSE has appropriate escalation routes to ensure that the person gets the card as quickly as possible.
The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. As announced in the Budget, it has been decided to commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged 5 and under with access to a GP service without fees. This will mean that almost half of the population will have access to GP services without fees. The Government is providing new, additional funding of €37 million to meet the cost of this measure.
The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation. The necessary administrative arrangements will be made during the course of 2014, when the specifics of the legislation are known.
The introduction of a universal GP service constitutes a fundamental element in the Government's health reform programme. The current Government is the first in the history of the State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population. A well functioning health system should provide equal access to health care for its patients on the basis of health needs, rather than ability to pay. The principles of universality and equity of access mean that all residents in Ireland should be entitled to access a GP service that is free at the point of use.
1100. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5. [46156/13]
View answerFor 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 are working closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1103. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will approve an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46171/13]
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.
1104. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46175/13]
View answerFor 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 are working closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
1105. Deputy Micheál Martin asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has discontinued physiotherapy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan with multiple sclerosis; if this is happening for all physiotherapy and walking assistance services for multiple sclerosis sufferers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46178/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
1107. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [46187/13]
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.
1108. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a motorised chair or scooter will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he or she has been assessed by the Health Service Executive for this type of equipment. [46192/13]
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.
1109. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Health the position regarding his dealings in respect of St. Brigid's Hospital, Crooksling, Brittas, County Dublin; if he will give assurances to families and the wider community regarding its future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46199/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
1110. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health when a review will take place on the fair deal system of financing nursing home care; when a review might be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46201/13]
View answerWork on the Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is ongoing. It is expected that the Review will be completed in early 2014 and the report will then be made publicly available.
1111. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown on VAT income detailing the amount generated from the following pieces of medical equipment (details supplied). [46207/13]
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.
1112. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason for the disparity in the totals for hospital inpatient and day case waiting lists for adults in August 2013 as reported by the National Treatment Purchase Fund which said there were 45,341 waiting and as reported by the Health Service Executive in its August 2013 performance report 40,801 waiting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46212/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
1113. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the National Treatment Purchase Fund did not publish separate waiting list data for the month of July 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46213/13]
View answerPerformance data relating to July 2013 was not available in time to publish an individual July 2013 report. Data relating to July 2013 has, however, been incorporated into the National Trend Analysis of Waiting Times Report, as is standard practice. The National Trend Analysis of Waiting Times is a report which demonstrates cumulative monthly reviews of all patient categories. This ensures that data for each month remains available for review and comparative purposes for at least 13 months. In relation to individual monthly reports, it should be noted that older 'stand alone' monthly data is removed from the website each month to allow space for the publication of the most recent 'stand alone' monthly report. The National Trend Analysis of Waiting Times Report is available at www.ntpf.ie.
1114. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the reason a person has to pay for transport from one hospital, where they are a long-term patient, to another hospital to receive treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46218/13]
View answerIn relation to the Deputy's query regarding inter-hospital transfers, as this is a service matter I have asked the HSE to respond directly.
