Written Answers Nos. 481-496
481. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health if due to the deployment of the back up ambulance in Ballinasloe to provide a service in Tuam, he intends to furnish a patient transport vehicle to the ambulance base in Ballinasloe, County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52602/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
482. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health the reason all amputee citizens do not have discretionary medical cards in view of the need to change costly prosthetic limbs regularly, including up to three or four times per annum for children and teenagers. [52613/13]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. The Act provides that persons who are unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and family qualify for a medical card. The HSE can only award medical cards in accordance with the Act and, therefore, it must assess applicants on the overall financial situation of the applicant and his or her dependants. The HSE gives effect to this legislation through its Medical Card National Assessment Guidelines.
While there is no legal basis for the HSE to award medical cards on the basis of a specific medical condition, the HSE has, however, discretion to grant a medical card in certain circumstances. If an applicant’s means are above the financial thresholds, set out in the national guidelines, the HSE examines for any indication of circumstances (medical or social), which might result in undue financial hardship in the arranging of medical services. Eligibility may be granted on a discretionary basis if these circumstances are such that a person cannot arrange GP services for themselves and their family without undue financial hardship.
The HSE has a clinical panel which assists in the processing of applications for discretionary medical cards where there is financial expenditure related to a medical condition. This ensures that the applications by those diagnosed with an ailment are assessed and addressed in the most expeditious and sensitive way and that the specific situation of a person can be considered on a case-by-case basis.
483. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health if all necessary supports are being provided to all amputee citizens living here, including those who currently hold discretionary medical cards. [52614/13]
View answer484. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health where prosthetic limbs provided to patients here are sourced from; and the proportion of prosthetic limbs fitted by specialists employed by the Health Service Executive that have been made here. [52618/13]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 483 and 484 together.
As the Deputy's questions relate to service matters, I have arranged for the questions to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
485. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when payment will be made by the Health Service Executive to North Meath Community Development Association in relation to rent of properties at Climber Hall, Kells, County Meath in line with binding arbitration adjudication; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52631/13]
View answerManagement of healthcare property is a service issue. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
486. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure a person (details supplied) is granted a medical card without further delay. [52642/13]
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.
487. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if fertility treatments such as IVF are available on the medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52643/13]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
488. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) in Dublin 15 will be given access to a neural psychologist, behavioural therapist and occupational therapist in the public health system and receive necessary treatment. [52684/13]
View answerAs the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
489. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health the qualifying criteria for a medical card under EU entitlement regulations; the reasons a medical card was removed from a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; if this medical card will be reinstated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52687/13]
View answerRegulation (EC) 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09 provide for the co-ordination of social security systems, including healthcare, within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, with the aim of ensuring the free movement of persons. This objective of the Regulation is to ensure that persons exercising their right to move and to stay freely within the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not suffer disadvantage.
In Ireland, a Medical Card may be issued to EU\EEA citizens under EU Regulation 883/04 if the person is in receipt of a qualifying payment from one, or more, of the Member States, provided they are not subject to Irish social insurance legislation. It is the person with the qualifying payment who is assessed for a medical card. Family members of persons with an entitlement under the EU Regulations may also be entitled to a medical card provided they (the family member(s)) are not subject to Irish social security legislation.
I have asked the Health Service Executive for a report regarding the eligibility of the person concerned, as raised by the Deputy and will revert to the Deputy on the matter as soon as possible.
490. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when he expects to sign the commencement notice for regulations allowing for the Health Information and Quality Authority to carry out unannounced inspections in public hospitals for all purposes other than for hospital acquired infections, which it is already allowed to do; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52691/13]
View answerUnder Section 8 of the Health Act 2007 the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) may set standards on safety and quality and monitor compliance with these standards. HIQA may also undertake an investigation as to the safety, quality and standards of the services if the Authority believes that there are reasonable grounds for doing so as set out in Section 9 of the Act. The National Standards for the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections (HCAI) were introduced in 2009 and HIQA continues to monitor compliance with these Standards using the powers provided in the Health Act 2007. To date HIQA has carried out both announced and unannounced inspections in public hospitals around the country to monitor compliance with the HCAI Standards.
I approved the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare in June 2012. The National Standards describe high quality safe healthcare services. Such services deliver care which is safe, effective, person centred and which promotes better health for service users. HIQA is currently developing a monitoring programme for the National Standards in 2014. Under Section 8 of the Health Act 2007 HIQA has the powers to monitor compliance with the National Standards. It will be a matter for HIQA to decide on the operational arrangements used to monitor implementation of the National Standards and if such monitoring requires unannounced visits to public hospitals.
491. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health if there is a national register of all hospitals public and private; if there are published criteria in place for facilities to be registered as a hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52692/13]
View answerMy Department does not hold a national register of public and private hospitals. The Deputy will wish to be aware, however, that legislative proposals are currently being developed on the licensing of public and private health service providers designed to improve patient safety by ensuring that health service providers do not operate below core standards. The legislative proposals will include provision on the establishment and maintenance of a register of licensed providers which will be accessible to the public.
492. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the number of general practitioners per head of population in Ireland compares with the OECD average; his plans to change this; the timeframe for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52698/13]
View answerThe OECD Health Data 2013 shows the average number of General Practitioners (GPs) per 1,000 population across OECD countries in 2011 was approximately 0.70. It also shows that Ireland had approximately 0.72 GPs per 1,000 population in 2011. It should be noted that figures for some countries exclude trainees, while others (including Ireland) include all registered GPs.
On 20th November 2013, 2,828 medical practitioners held registration as trained Specialists in the specialty of General Practice on the Specialist Division of the Medical Council's Register of Medical Practitioners. Holding registration does not necessarily mean that the medical practitioner is in active practice. On 20th November last, 2,408 GPs held a General Medical Services (GMS) contract.
In July of this year, my colleague Dr James Reilly, Minister for Health, established a Working Group, chaired by Professor Brian MacCraith, President of DCU, to carry out a Strategic Review of Medical Training and Career Structure. The Working Group will examine and make high-level recommendations relating to training and career pathways for doctors with a view to improving graduate retention in the public health system, planning for future service needs, and realising maximum benefit from investment in medical education and training. Professor MacCraith has been asked to furnish the Group's final report by the end of June 2014.
The HSE is currently engaged in a medical workforce planning project, which will include a workforce plan for GPs. When this work has been completed, it will assist in identifying GP requirements.
493. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of privately run health centres in County Kerry that are receiving funding from the Health Service Executive; if he will provide details of this funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52704/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
494. Deputy Nicky McFadden asked the Minister for Health if the establishment of hospital groups will assist in addressing the issue of non-consultant hospital doctors' working hours and conditions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52706/13]
View answerThe introduction of Hospital Groups will provide for organisational change in the first instance, giving more autonomy and better enabling the reorganisation of services in a well-planned manner. Over time, this will help to improve services and service delivery resulting in better outcomes for patients.
Chairs have now been appointed to all seven Hospital Groups. CEOs are in place for three of the Groups, and the process of recruiting CEOs for the remaining four Groups is ongoing through the Public Appointments Service. My Department is also working with the Chairs with a view to appointing the remaining Board members as soon as possible.
A Strategic Advisory Group is now being established, chaired by Mr Leo Kearns, which will oversee the establishment of Hospital Groups and the subsequent reorganisation of acute hospital services. Each group of hospitals will work together as single cohesive entities managed as one, to provide acute care for patients in their area, integrating with community and primary care. This will maximise the amount of care delivered locally, whilst ensuring complex care is safely provided in larger hospitals. Hospital Groups will be required, within one year, to develop a strategic plan which will outline their plans for future services within the group area and the role of hospitals within each group will be considered in detail in the context of this strategic plan.
The establishment of Hospital Groups will promote more efficient use of resources including NCHD staff. I am confident that these necessary reforms will contribute significantly to our health services achieving compliance with the European Working Time Directive.
495. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when further medical examinations will be carried out on a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52708/13]
View answerThe Deputy's question relates to service delivery matters and accordingly I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him.
496. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card review and issue a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52710/13]
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.
