Written Answers Nos. 637-657
637. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite the general practitioner visit card review or issue a temporary GP visit card to a person (details supplied) in County Dublin. [50639/13]
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.
638. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the petrol and diesel costs incurred by Health Service Executive staff in the Dublin mid-Leinster region for the past ten years. [50646/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter I have requested the Health Service Executive to investigate and respond directly to the Deputy.
639. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Health when the regulations under the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50647/13]
View answerThe Regulations pursuant the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Act 2013 cannot be made until the Act is commenced. It is my intention to commence the Act by the end of this year.
640. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the reason charges continue to be placed on medical card holders for the taking of blood samples by general practitioners; if he will detail the actions taken on this issue since July 2012; the further actions he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50653/13]
View answerUnder paragraph 11 of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract, a general practitioner (GP) shall provide for eligible persons, on behalf of the HSE, all proper and necessary treatment of a kind usually undertaken by a GP and not requiring special skill or experience of a degree or kind which GPs cannot reasonably be expected to possess. Under paragraph 27 of the GMS contract, a medical practitioner shall not demand or accept any payment or consideration whatsoever in reward for services provided by him/her, or for travelling or for other expenses incurred by him/her or for the use of any premises, equipment or instruments in making the services available. In circumstances where the taking of blood is necessary to either (a) assist in the process of diagnosing a patient or (b) monitor a diagnosed condition, the GP may not charge that patient if they are eligible for free GMS services under the Health Act, 1970, as amended.
In 2011, the HSE wrote to GP contract holders to clarify the position in relation to this matter. The HSE has also communicated its position to the Irish Medical Organisation. Any alleged instances of eligible patients being requested to pay for a routine service of this nature from their own limited resources is viewed as a serious matter by the HSE and the Department.
I have been advised by the HSE that its Local Health Offices will fully investigate any reported incidents of eligible patients being charged for phlebotomy services which form part of the investigation and necessary treatment of patients' symptoms or conditions. In such cases, where a medical card holder or a GP visit card holder has been inappropriately charged for the taking of blood, the HSE will make deductions from those GPs' routine GMS payments. Since July 2012, the HSE has made deductions from 7 GPs' GMS payments, where it determined that the GPs in question had inappropriately charged patients for phlebotomy services (3 in Dublin, 3 in Kilkenny and 1 in Wexford).
The HSE is also continuing to advise eligible patients who believe they have been inappropriately charged by a GP for routine phlebotomy services, to seek a refund from the GP in question. It is appreciated that because of the nature of the GP/patient relationship, it may be difficult for patients to make such complaints. Where public representatives are made aware of GPs charging GMS patients in error, they may wish to notify the HSE directly. Officials in my Department are in consultation with the HSE with a view to drawing up a new GP contract. The appropriate arrangements in relation to phlebotomy services will be considered as part of the new contract.
641. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 254 of 26 September 2013 when he expects a decision will be made on the establishment of a no-fault compensation scheme; the consideration currently being given to the establishment of such a scheme; if he will provide an update on those considerations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50656/13]
View answerThe establishment of a no-fault compensation scheme is being considered by my Department as part of the recommendations of the Vaccine Damage Steering Group. However, this issue is more complex than envisaged with many legal ramifications which will result in the process taking longer than anticipated.
642. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health when universal health care insurance will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50694/13]
View answerThe Government is embarking on a major reform programme for the health system, the aim of which is to deliver a single-tier health service, supported by universal health insurance (UHI), where there is fair access to services based on need, not on ability to pay. Under UHI, everyone will be insured with their choice of insurer and will have equal access to a standard package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. A new Insurance Fund will subsidise or pay insurance premiums for those who qualify for a subsidy.
Intensive work is currently underway on the preparation of a White Paper on Universal Health Insurance which will provide more detail on the UHI model for Ireland. Drafting is at an advanced stage with a view to publishing the White Paper by the end of this year. The health reform programme is a major undertaking that requires careful planning and sequencing over a number of years and full implementation of UHI will take some time to achieve. I anticipate that by 2016 the necessary groundwork will be in place to enable us to phase in implementation of UHI, as promised in the Programme for Government. I should add that it is my intention to consult widely as part of the reform implementation process.
643. Deputy Ann Phelan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cochlear implants, following the unanimous endorsement of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Health and Children to support the case for a bilateral cochlear implant programme; and if that programme is to be included in the Health Service Executive's national service plan for 2014, in order that the programme may be rolled out. [50700/13]
View answerBeaumont Hospital is the centre for delivering Ireland’s national cochlear implant programme, with surgical provision for patients under six years being carried out in the Children’s University Hospital Temple Street. Since the programme commenced in 1995, over 700 patients have received cochlear implants. Beaumont Hospital carried out ninety cochlear implants in 2012 (42 children and 48 adults).
The HSE has developed a proposal, in liaison with Beaumont Hospital, to introduce a bilateral cochlear implant programme in Ireland. It is planned that the programme will be located in Beaumont Hospital. This is a complex development and the HSE has engaged with many stakeholders in the proposal development. Introduction of bilateral cochlear implantation will involve additional staff, equipment and capital works and will be dependent on additional funding being made available to support its commencement. The proposal is being considered in the context of the Health Estimate for 2014, announced on 15 October last, and the HSE's National Service Plan 2014.
644. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health in view of recent concerns regarding top-up payments, his views on whether it is appropriate that Health Service Executive employees working in, but not seconded to, section 39 agencies should be in receipt of additional private top-up payments from those agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50704/13]
View answer645. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health his plans to conduct audits of section 39 agencies, including doctors' co-operatives such as Caredoc, Westdoc, Lukedoc, Eastdoc and so on, to assess whether Health Service Executive employees working in, but not seconded to, those agencies are receiving additional top-up payments from those agencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50705/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 644 and 645 together.
Employees of organisations which are grant-aided by the HSE under Section 39 of the 2004 Health Act are not categorised as public servants. Subject to their individual terms of employment and to compliance with the Organisation of Working Time Act 1997, HSE staff members are not prohibited from undertaking remunerated work for third parties outside of the public service. It is a shared responsibility of both employer and employee to ensure that involvement in any such additional activities does not have an adverse effect on the ability of a person to fulfil his or her duties as a health service employee. If the Deputy wishes to raise a particular instance that gives rise to concern, I will ask the HSE to look into the matter.
646. 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. [50720/13]
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.
647. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will issue a hearing aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50722/13]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
648. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the principal use of the playing fields in Beaumont Woods, Dublin 9, will remain for playing sports following confirmation that the playing fields will be used as the new helicopter landing site for Beaumont Hospital, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50723/13]
View answer649. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if the construction of a temporary or permanent helipad will be required to facilitate helicopter landings in the playing fields at Beaumont Woods, Dublin 9; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50725/13]
View answer651. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will consider moving the helicopter landing site at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, back to its original location within the hospital grounds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50727/13]
View answer652. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the reason the helicopter landing site at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, has moved to an external residential estate at Beaumont Woods following many years of landing within the grounds of the hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50728/13]
View answer653. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if air ambulance helicopters are capable of landing on top of hospital buildings to minimise patient risk and journey time; if a helicopter will be able to land on top of one of the Beaumont Hospital buildings, Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50729/13]
View answer655. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if consideration was given to the additional risk for the patient being transported from the new external helicopter landing site at Beaumont Woods to Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, when choosing a new site; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50735/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 648, 649, 651 to 653, inclusive, and 655 together.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, your questions have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
650. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the profit generated by the income from the Beaumont Hospital car parks in the past five years; where this profit has been spent in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50726/13]
View answer654. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the car parking rates charged at Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, for each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50730/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 650 and 654 together.
As these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
656. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the profit generated by the income from the Beaumont Hospital shop, Dublin, in the past five years; where this profit has been spent in the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50736/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
657. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the funding provided by his Department and the Health Service Executive to organisations or agencies to deal with homelessness during the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [50748/13]
View answerThe Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government and local authorities have statutory responsibility for the provision of homelessness services in Ireland in line with the National Homeless Strategy, 'The Way Home 2008-2013' and 'Pathway to Home'.
Local authorities identify and address the level of need through a range of community based accommodation options and related housing supports, and the HSE and its partner agencies arrange health and personal social care supports appropriate to the individual service user's needs within this structure.
The table outlines the amount of funding provided by HSE Social Inclusion to bodies working in the area of homelessness during the period 2007-2012 and also the allocation for 2013.
HSE Homeless Funding via Social Inclusion 2007-2013
|
- |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
Expenditure |
|
- |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
Allocation- 2013 |
|
HSE Totals |
€33,805,173 |
€36,139,707 |
€34,243,712 |
€33,183,572 |
€31,823,675 |
€33,011,998 |
€33,004,720 |
