Written Answers Nos 686-705
686. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of persons over 70 years who will lose their full medical cards as a result of the measures announced in budget 2014; the number that will have their medical card replaced with a GP only card; and a breakdown of same by county. [49365/13]
View answerIt is estimated that, under the new medical card gross income limits for persons aged 70 or older announced under Budget 2014, in the region of 35,000 people will have their medical card replaced with a GP visit card. It is not possible to provide a breakdown of the numbers by county as the data is not collated in a manner to facilitate this.
Persons aged 70 or older who are assessed as ineligible under the gross income thresholds may also have their eligibility assessed under the means tested medical card scheme where they face particularly high expenses, e.g., nursing home or medication costs. This assessment is based on net income and assessable outgoing expenses. The qualifying income thresholds under this scheme are lower than over-70s gross income thresholds. Furthermore, persons aged over 70 years may still be eligible for a medical card on a discretionary basis where they face undue hardship in arranging medical services as a result of medical or social circumstances.
687. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form, waiting times for occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and psychology therapy services for children; and a breakdown of same by Health Service Executive area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49366/13]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to services issues and as the information on waiting times for such therapy services is not routinely returned to my Department by the HSE, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in these matters.
688. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in announcing the design team for the new national paediatric hospital. [49368/13]
View answerPrior to the commencement of construction, key elements of the project include design development, decant works for the site and planning permission. The procurement process for the new design team was initiated in July. Following its appointment in August, the new National Paediatric Hospital Development Board (NPHDB) reviewed that procurement process and has decided on a change of approach based on its collective expertise and experience and taking into account changing market conditions. While this change means that the design team will be selected in Spring 2014, rather than by the end of this year as originally planned, the new Board is confident that there will be no delay to the project overall, as time can now be recovered at contractor tender stage. The new Prior Information Notice was published on 7 November.
Work by the NPHDB on developing a detailed project timeline is continuing, which will reflect the urgency and priority of the project and also its scale and complexity. However, at this stage, the Board is confident that construction can begin in Spring 2015.
689. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to having the proposed primary care centre for Drimnagh located not at Curlew Road but at the newly purchased Davitt Road site. [49369/13]
View answerDelivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
690. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that a decision has been taken to build a national paediatric hospital in St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, if it is cost effective to continue to build new facilities in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital, Crumlin, in view of the fact that the site is not owned by the State and that no future use has been decided for it post-construction of the new national paediatric hospital, and that the site and building could be sold with no financial benefit or recouping of cost arising to the State. [49370/13]
View answerThe requirement for capital investment in Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin to sustain and improve patient services in advance of the move to the new children's hospital will continue to be considered in the context of the priorities in the Capital Programme.
The HSE’s National Capital & Property Steering Committee appraises all projects to be included in the Capital Plan. Project applications must be accompanied by detailed project briefs. The project brief includes a needs assessment, a detailed capital appraisal or a cost benefit analysis, life cycle costs, projected capital budget and revenue and staffing implications.
691. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8. [49387/13]
View answer693. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in Tallaght Hospital, Dublin 24. [49391/13]
View answer694. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in the Mater Hospital, Dublin 7. [49392/13]
View answer702. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in St. Vincent’s Hospital, Dublin 4. [49442/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 691, 693, 694 and 702 together.
In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him in these matters.
692. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in Connolly hospital, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15. [49390/13]
View answer701. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a breakdown of the number of patients waiting for all types of surgery, including elective surgery, based on the following timeframes: one to three months; three to six months; greater than six months; greater than nine months; and more than one year in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9 [49441/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 692 and 701 together.
In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly, in these matters.
695. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health in regard to the 477 multidisciplinary staff for community mental health services promised for 2013, the number that are currently in post; if all of the 477 staff for 2013 will be hired in 2013; if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of the 477 staff for 2013 by discipline and by region; if he will provide a breakdown in tabular form of the 477 staff in terms of the allocation to adult mental health services, CAMHS, intellectual disability, old age and forensic services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49402/13]
View answerAn additional €35m was allocated in Budget 2013 for the continued development of our mental health services across a range of headings, including the further development of forensic services and community mental health teams for adults, children, older persons and mental health intellectual disability. 477 posts have been approved to implement these measures. As at 30th September 255 posts (54%) were in the final stages of recruitment, and a further 149 (31%) were at earlier stages indicating that 85% of the posts are in the recruitment process with the balance in the HR approvals process.
There are a number of posts for which there are difficulties in identifying suitable candidates due to factors including availability of qualified candidates and geographic location. The HSE's National Recruitment Service is currently working to ensure that the remaining posts will be filled as soon as possible, from existing panels or through competition in the absence of panels, at the earliest opportunity. Options to enable more local recruitment are also being considered where this will assist in filling specific posts. I have received assurances from the HSE that the recruitment process for these new posts is being given priority within the HSE.
In relation to the specific breakdown by discipline and by region, since recruitment and allocation to posts and specific areas of service is currently underway this question would be more appropriately addressed by the HSE to whom it has been referred for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
696. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if, in view of the importance of early diagnosis and timely medical intervention for sufferers of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, he will provide resources to appoint specialists in this field in Dublin and Cork because there is currently no dedicated specialist in the field in the State. [49405/13]
View answerIn relation to the specific query raised by the Deputy regarding the appointment of specialists in Dublin and Cork, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
697. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide details of applications made to the treatment abroad scheme by sufferers of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome for each year from 2003 to date in 2013; and the number of those applications approved and refused. [49406/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to furnish the information requested. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the information is obtained.
698. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if EU Council recommendation of 8 June 2009 on an action in the field of rare diseases (2009/C 151/02) is being implemented by his Department and the Health Service Executive in regard to Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. [49415/13]
View answerMy Department is finalising a national plan on rare diseases which is set in the context of the council recommendation of 8th June 2009. While no specific rare disease is mentioned, the council decision declared that it is estimated that there are between 5,000 and 8,000 rare diseases; and hence it states that the specificities of rare diseases are:
- A limited number of patients; and
- A scarcity of relevant knowledge and expertise.
The councils decision recognised these specificities when it recommended that member states adopt a plan to guide actions in the general field of rare diseases. It is with this in mind that my Department is finalising a generic plan to apply to the 8,000 rare diseases - including Ehlers Danlos Syndrome - estimated to exist.
699. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if Ehlers-Danlos syndrome will be recognised, as a long-term illness, as required under a EU Council recommendation of 8 June 2009 on an action in the field of rare diseases 2009/C 151/02. [49416/13]
View answerIreland has been supportive of the EU proposals on rare disease which concluded with a Council Recommendation (2009/C 151/02) in June 2009. The end point is that countries are recommended to develop plans or strategies for rare diseases. Ireland is now well advanced in this work and it is expected that a rare disease plan will be finalised in the near future.
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme is a non-means tested scheme introduced in 1971 under Section 59(3) of the Health Act 1970 (as amended). It provides free medicines and medical or surgical appliances to people with specified conditions. Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the Scheme. There are no plans to extend the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
In addition, people who cannot, without undue hardship, arrange for the provision of medical services for themselves and their dependants may be entitled to a medical card. In the assessment process, the Health Service Executive can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family. Those who are not eligible for a medical card may still be able to avail of a GP visit card, which covers the cost of GP consultations.
700. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if there were dedicated resources and specialist staff treating patients with Ehlers-Danlos sydrome at Tallaght hospital, Dublin 24 in the past decade or so; and if it is the case that those resources were withdrawn as part of cuts to the health budget in recent years. [49417/13]
View answerIn relation to the specific queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service issues they have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
703. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the total number of agency staff engaged at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012 in porter services, nursing grades, maintenance and cleaning; if he will provide in tabular format the total cost per annum under each of these headings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49445/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
704. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the costs associated with transportation relating to the laundry service at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, within the hospital campus and from the hospital to facilities at Navan and Dundalk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49446/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
705. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive has decided to sell the health centre in Kilmuckridge, County Wexford; the guarantees he can give that existing community services in Kilmuckridge will be continued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49453/13]
View answerManagement of the healthcare property portfolio is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
