Tuesday, 12 Nov 2013

Written Answers Nos. 486-502

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (487)

Robert Troy

Question:

487. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford was forced to pay for equipment associated with their care. [48288/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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.

Question No. 488 answered with Question No. 418.

Health Services Staff Issues

Questions (489)

Seán Kyne

Question:

489. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health if further consideration has been given to extending the remit of registered nurse prescribers, RNPs, employed in acute or specialist hospitals, mental health services, private hospitals, private nursing homes and general practice to issue prescriptions in view of the efficiencies that would accrue from such a measure by freeing up other medical staff and in reflecting the situation in private nursing home facilities, in which RNPs are permitted to prescribe for private residents but not for General Medical Services, GMS, residents. [48309/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy

International Agreements

Questions (490)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Question:

490. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if a cost-benefit analysis has been undertaken by his Department on the impact of Ireland signing the Antarctic treaty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48322/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The question of Ireland's ratification of the Antarctic Treaty and related agreements comprising the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) has been examined in some detail by the Government Departments and Offices Concerned. As Minister for Health, neither I, nor my Department have any function in this area.

Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications

Questions (491)

John O'Mahony

Question:

491. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their application approved under the fair deal scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48329/13]

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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (492)

Tom Fleming

Question:

492. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48330/13]

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.

Proposed Legislation

Questions (493)

Denis Naughten

Question:

493. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the promised health identifiers Bill; the estimated savings to his estimate by the full implementation of this legislation; the reason PPS numbers cannot be used in the interim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48331/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

The Government recently approved the drafting of a Health Identifiers Bill 2013 and it is expected to be published before the end of this year. The implementation of a health identifier will greatly add to patient safety and administrative efficiency. It is also a crucial building block for Money Follows The Patient and Universal Heath Insurance, both cornerstones of the Government Reform Agenda.

The implementation of a sectoral health identifier, separate from the PPS number, was recommended in the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) report "Recommendations for a Unique Heath Identifier for Ireland" (2009) and is in line with recommendations made by the Commission on Patient Safety in their 2008 report "Building a Culture of Patient Safety". A sectoral identifier for health will provide the best assurance to the public of the confidentiality of their medial records.

Implementation of a patient identifier is recognised as being an essential infrastructural initiative which will facilitate many significant improvements to the health system in areas such as reduced adverse events and improved data access and quality. It will provide many revenue and cost recovery/avoidance opportunities and it is also a fundamental requirement for deploying e-Health solutions. It is not practicable at this point to quantify in monetary terms the savings arising from implementing a system of individual health identifiers because the savings will accrue from the subsequent developments and opportunities made possible by the systems of unique identification rather than the system of unique identification itself.

It is intended that the health identifier will leverage the existing identity management infrastructure administered by the Minister for Social Protection, including the Public Services Card, which is currently being deployed.

My Department is engaging with all relevant stakeholders including the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, the Data Protection Commissioner and HIQA in relation to this matter.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (494, 495, 496)

Denis Naughten

Question:

494. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health his timetable for the opening of the three ambulance stations in Mulranny, County Mayo, Tuam, County Galway, and Loughglynn, County Roscommon on a 24/7 basis; the total capital spend on each project; if he will ensure that 30 whole-time equivalent posts are provided for in the 2014 service plan to deliver on this objective; the current ambulance activity at each location and from where the resource is allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48334/13]

Denis Naughten

Question:

495. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulance-AP shifts that have been dropped at each ambulance base in counties Roscommon, Galway and Mayo in each of the past three months; the implications of these dropped shifts on response times and patient outcomes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48335/13]

Denis Naughten

Question:

496. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health the number of ambulances and rapid response vehicles, respectively. which are not used on a daily basis for front line services in each of the nine ambulance regions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48336/13]

Written answers

Minister for Health

I propose to take Questions Nos. 494 to 496, inclusive, together.

In relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

General Practitioner Services

Questions (497)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

497. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the timeframe for the introduction of free general practitioner care for children aged five years and under; the estimated cost of the measure in 2014; the estimated full year cost; the timeline for the introduction of free GP care to the population as a whole; the estimated annual full year cost of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48362/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

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 full year cost of this measure. The estimated cost is based on an estimation of additional capitation costs, practice support costs, and other claims costs under the current GMS GP reimbursement arrangements.

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 services that is free at the point of use.

The Cabinet Committee on Health and Children has discussed the issues relating to the roll-out of the universal GP service and has agreed that a number of alternative options should be set out with regard to the phased implementation of a universal GP service without fees. As part of this work, consideration is being given to the approaches, timing and financial implications of the phased implementation of this universal primary care health service as a first step towards the introduction of Universal Health Insurance. A range of options are under consideration with a view to bringing developed proposals to Government shortly. The additional cost of providing access to GP services without fees for the entire population, i.e. those not currently covered by the GMS scheme, based on current rates of payments to GPs, is estimated to be between €330 million and €365 million.

Question No. 498 answered with Question No. 443.

Primary Care Services Provision

Questions (499)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

499. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be provided with a specialised hospital bed and mattress for care at home. [48370/13]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Health

The 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.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (500)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

500. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48372/13]

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.

General Medical Services Scheme

Questions (501)

Finian McGrath

Question:

501. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding assistance in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3. [48373/13]

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.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (502)

Jack Wall

Question:

502. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive a hospital appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48375/13]

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 Health Service Executive, 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 HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.