Written Answers Nos. 227-235
227. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the actions his Department or the Health Service Executive are taking in view of the top-up culture for senior managers in the health service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52328/13]
View answer240. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when his Department was first informed of the payment of top-ups at the Central Remedial Clinic; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52439/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 227 and 240 together.
Arising from the HIQA report on Tallaght Hospital in 2012 which noted that a number of senior staff had been in receipt of remuneration in addition to the approved rates for their posts, my Department requested the HSE to take steps to ensure that similar payments were not being made in other agencies funded under Section 38 of the 2004 Health Act. On foot of this, on 21 May 2012 the HSE wrote to all Section 38 organisations, seeking comprehensive information on any supplementary payments being made to senior managers within their organisations. In early June 2012 the HSE informally briefed my Department on the initial responses received. Among the information conveyed in that context was that the CRC had indicated that the CEO of the organisation was in receipt of substantial payments in excess of the approved salary for the post. Following analysis of the organisations' responses, the HSE's Internal Audit Directorate was requested to examine in detail the nature of any supplementary remuneration arrangements in Section 38 agencies and the extent to which these were the subject of official approval.
The HSE has robustly and effectively investigated all the relevant matters and, with the support of my Department, will take all necessary steps to ensure compliance with Government pay policy. The HSE will furnish me with further progress reports in due course following full and fair procedures.
228. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the amount he expects the budget deficit to be for his Department and for the Health Service Executive for 2013; his views on whether a Supplementary Estimate is needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52329/13]
View answerThe HSE is reporting a gross deficit of €119m to the end of September. This compares to a figure of €399m at the same period last year. The September National Performance Assurance Report is indicating a projected end year direct services deficit of around €105m. This deficit is in respect of core services and does not include projected deficits in respect of PCRS, Private Health Insurance Income, and shortfalls in savings under the Haddington Road Agreement.
Whilst it is anticipated that there will be some surplus on the Capital side, it is clear that the health sector will require a Supplementary Estimate in 2013, the Exchequer effect of which will be offset by any saving on the Vote of the Department of Health. The amount required is currently being finalised in discussions between my Department, the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
229. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the number of staff seconded from the Department of the Taoiseach and other Departments to his Department and the Health Service Executive; their roles and responsibilities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52330/13]
View answerThere are no staff currently seconded to my Department from the Department of the Taoiseach. As regards other Departments, there is one statistician from the Central Statistics Office currently working in my Department on a secondment basis. However there are a number of staff currently seconded/temporarily transferred to my Department from other Offices/Health Agencies including the Office of the Attorney General, the Health Service Executive and the Health Information and Quality Authority.
With regard to the Health Service Executive, they have been asked to collate the data sought as soon as possible and it will be provided directly to the Deputy by them when available.
230. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the long-term illness scheme, with a view to including the condition of Nephrotic syndrome (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52343/13]
View answerThere are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the Long Term Illness 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 general practice consultation.
231. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 27 November 2013, the course of action open to CervicalCheck patients who are asked for their insurance details by a consultant in a colposcopy service; and if he will arrange to provide clarification to all consultants in this service regarding same. [52350/13]
View answerAs outlined in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 193 of 27 November 2013, the CervicalCheck screening programmes is offered free of charge to all patients. This includes CervicalCheck colposcopy services which are operated through out-patient departments in 15 hospitals. Women attending CervicalCheck colposcopy services are not charged for out-patient department services unless it is their choice to attend a consultant privately. The HSE's National Cancer Screening Service has assured me that all hospitals and colposcopy services who are involved in the CervicalCheck programme are fully aware of this.
While it may be the practice at individual hospitals to ask out-patient department attendees for private health insurance details when personal details are being collected, patients attending for CervicalCheck colposcopy are not required to provide such details unless they so wish.
233. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the salaries, bonuses and top-ups for pension schemes paid to senior executives of the Health Service Executive since its foundation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52369/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an application for a medical card will be reviewed in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52392/13]
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.
235. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the current waiting list for admission under the fair deal nursing home scheme and the current average waiting time; if he will confirm that all persons on the waiting list have been medically assessed as requiring full-time nursing home care; if he will ensure that the 2014 budget for the scheme is at a very minimum maintained, in view of this waiting list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52409/13]
View answerThe first stage in the application process for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a care needs assessment. This identifies whether or not long-term nursing home care is the most appropriate option for the particular individual, or whether they can be supported to continue living at home. Therefore, every individual on the placement list has been assessed as needing long-term nursing home care. On the 18th November there were 184 people on the placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. At that stage it was taking 7 days for funding to issue, from the date that the person was first placed on the list.
As the Deputy is aware, the total amounts available to fund health services in 2014 will be considerably lower than for this year. Accordingly, all expenditure headings are being scrutinised. The funding that is available must be balanced across all of the various service areas in a way that achieves the best possible outcomes for the greatest number of service users and prioritises areas of greatest need as far as possible. The needs of our older people are, and will remain, a very high priority for me and for the Government, and the resources that ultimately are available will be applied to provide the best possible mix of supports and services.
