Terence Flanagan
Question:202. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his plans to establish a primary care centre in Clongriffin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49854/13]
View answerPrimary Care Centre Provision
Questions (202)
Written answers
Delivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter. Therefore the question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
HSE Savings
Questions (203)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:203. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he has undertaken an evaluation of the savings involved in the centralisation of the medical card application process; the resuts, if any, of this evaluation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49860/13]
View answerWritten answers
The centralisation of the medical card scheme, which enhanced the system architecture underpinning approximately 18% of the health vote, was delivered successfully and is now being utilised by the State to deliver a more efficient and cost effective service to eligible persons.
Prior to centralisation, which commenced in 2011, some 450 staff operated medical card processing locally in 100 locations throughout the country. Following on from centralisation,150 staff operate the scheme. All local staff were permanent HSE employees and were redeployed to various frontline services as vacancies/needs arose locally following on from the voluntary retirements in the HSE. Accordingly, annual savings of approximately €9m can be attributed directly to the centralisation programme.
Now that the Medical Card Scheme is underpinned with a standard foundation, which enables better governance, more transparency and the use of efficient modern processes, the HSE continues to move ahead with additional improvements. I am satisfied that this key strategic change project has not only delivered significant savings but also delivers a more efficient, effective and economic service and it is vital to deliver future changes in the health environment.
General Medical Services Scheme Administration
Questions (204)
Robert Troy
Question:204. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will allow the medical card to cover Flexiseq, a pain medication ointment. [49862/13]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has not received an application for FlexiSEQ to be added to the List of Reimbursable items under the GMS and other community drug schemes. On receipt of a formal application from the product's Marketing Authorisation Holder, a comprehensive assessment of the clinical effectiveness of the product and whether it represents value for money for the State, will be undertaken by the HSE in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
Health Services
Questions (205)
Clare Daly
Question:205. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health with regard to the response he received from the Health Service Executive in relation to a person (details supplied), if he will inform the Health Service Executive that contrary to their statement that they had not received a referral to the north Dublin early intervention team for the child in question and that their waiting list was not closed, that such a referral was in fact made and therefore to instruct the HSE to amend this error and deal with the child's needs. [49866/13]
View answerWritten answers
As the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
Nursing Home Accommodation
Questions (206)
Finian McGrath
Question:206. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a transfer in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11. [49869/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Orthodontic Service Provision
Questions (207)
Joe O'Reilly
Question:207. Deputy Joe O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the steps being taken to expedite the orthodontic treatment for three second level students (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49871/13]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (208)
Michael McCarthy
Question:208. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health the actions he is taking to address the shortage of acute child psychiatric services (details supplied) in County Cork; when a permanent consultant will be appointed to this service as the absence of such has placed a considerable strain on this service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49872/13]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Hospital Appointment Status
Questions (209)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:209. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49882/13]
View answerWritten answers
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.