Pat Deering
Question:167. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer to their medical card application; and if he will expedite an answer. [48401/13]
View answerMedical Card Applications
Questions (167)
Written 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.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (168)
Pat Deering
Question:168. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an answer on their medical card review; and if he will expedite an answer. [48402/13]
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.
Accident and Emergency Services Provision
Questions (169)
Terence Flanagan
Question:169. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the changes the special delivery unit has brought to the accident and emergency department in Beaumont Hospital to date; the future plans of the SDU for the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48428/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (170)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:170. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for an urgent surgical procedure to be carried out in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48435/13]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (171)
Bernard Durkan
Question:171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48442/13]
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.
Hospital Charges
Questions (172)
Denis Naughten
Question:172. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will reduce the accident and emergency charge for self-presenters to urgent care centres in view of the need to encourage the public to attend an urgent care centre thereby taking the pressure off overburdened accident and emergency departments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48463/13]
View answerWritten answers
The A&E charge which is currently €100, is provided for by the Health (Out-Patient Charges) Regulations 2013. The charge applies to persons attending Emergency Departments, Accident and Emergency Departments, Casualty Departments, Minor Injury Units, Urgent Care Centres, Local Injury Units or any other facility providing similar services, subject to exemptions set out in these regulations, including medical card holders and those who have a letter of referral from a registered medical practitioner.
I have no plans to reduce these charges for those attending Urgent Care Centres.