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Wednesday, 15 Jan 2014

Written Answers Nos. 742-758

Hospital Facilities

Questions (742)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

742. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital will open. [55230/13]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Waiting Lists

Questions (743)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

743. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the number of persons currently on waiting lists for epilepsy monitoring. [55231/13]

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Written answers

In relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.

Hospital Staff Recruitment

Questions (744)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

744. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which nurses and EEG technicians will be recruited to staff the epilepsy monitoring unit at Cork University Hospital. [55232/13]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Hospital Facilities

Questions (745)

Jonathan O'Brien

Question:

745. Deputy Jonathan O'Brien asked the Minister for Health the date on which the epilepsy monitoring unit at Beaumont Hospital will be reopened. [55233/13]

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Written answers

The Epilepsy Monitoring Unit at Beaumont Hospital was opened on a phased basis during 2013 as, and when, the necessary staff took up duty. The requirement to recruit the appropriately skilled staff was critical to the commissioning and bringing to use of the unit.

The four-bedded Specialist Epilepsy Unit is now fully operational with two Neurophysiology Technicians, a Neurophysiologist and five Staff Nurses. The first two beds opened in mid June 2013 and the remaining two opened on 2 December 2013.

Patients on the waiting list are now being scheduled for admission.

EU Directives

Questions (746)

Gerry Adams

Question:

746. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health when Directive 2011/24/EU of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients' rights in cross-border health care will be fully transposed into Irish law. [55240/13]

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Written answers

The Directive on Patients' Rights in Cross Border Healthcare provides rules for the reimbursement to patients' of the cost of receiving treatment abroad, where the patient would be entitled to such treatment in their home Member State (Member State of Affiliation) and supplements the rights that patients already have at EU level through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04).

The Directive seeks to ensure a clear and transparent framework for the provision of cross-border healthcare within the EU, for those occasions where the care patients seek is provided in another Member State rather than in their home country. However, it should be emphasised that the vast majority of EU patients receive healthcare in their own country and prefer to do so.

The Department of Health is continuing to work on the necessary statutory provisions to fully implement the Directive. Nevertheless, there are arrangements in place in respect of the key provision of the Directive in relation to a national contact point (NCP), which has been set up within the HSE – the email address is crossborderdirective@hse.ie.

The principle function of the NCP is to facilitate exchange of information for patients concerning their rights and entitlements relating to receiving healthcare in another Member State, in particular the terms and conditions for reimbursement of cost, the procedures for accessing and determining those entitlements. The NCP also has a responsibility to ensure that all enquirers are informed of the rights, if any, that they may have through the legislation on the coordination of social security schemes (regulation 883/04) and which may be more beneficial to them. The NCP will be able to inform patients what the cost of their treatments would be in Ireland to allow them make a comparison with the costs they are being quoted for comparable treatment in another Member State.

While it has been possible to have these aspects of the NCP up and running by 25 October on an administrative basis, it has not been possible to have prior authorisation or reimbursement operating on a statutory basis. The Department is working on the legal arrangements to put in place the statutory provisions for these systems and will be implementing them as soon as possible.

Further information on the Ireland's implementation of the Directive is available on the NCP's webpage: http://hse.ie/eng/services/list/1/schemes/cbd/CBD.html.

Services for People with Disabilities

Questions (747)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

747. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the resources that will be put into the services for adults suffering from autism and learning disabilities in County Kerry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55245/13]

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Written answers

Hospital Accommodation Provision

Questions (748)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

748. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will ensure that funding is provided in the budget 2014 to allow for the opening of the remaining beds in Kenmare Community Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55284/13]

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Written answers

The HSE National Service Plan 2014 sets out the quantum and type of health services to be provided in 2014, within the overall level of funding provided. As the issue referred to by the Deputy is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Ambulance Service Provision

Questions (749)

Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin

Question:

749. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the guidelines, regulations and legislative provisions that apply to the regulation of private ambulance and pre-emergency care here; if these are mandatory or voluntary; the measures he is taking to ensure that all providers of pre-emergency care are in compliance with relevant standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55285/13]

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Written answers

The Pre-Hospital Emergency Care Council (PHECC) was established in 2000 under SI 109 of 2000, to replace the National Ambulance Advisory Council. It is an independent statutory body which is responsible for qualifications and examinations in pre-hospital care, ambulance practitioner registration, practitioner fitness to practise matters and the preparation of clinical practice guidelines. The Council also approves training courses and institutions.

In relation to pre-hospital service providers, PHECC inspects providers, including private ambulance services, for the purpose of recognising those providers which undertake to implement its statutory clinical practice guidelines. It is a requirement of PHECC recognition that the provider is in a position to comply with the Council's operating and clinical standards. Provider recognition is not a licensing system, but in practice it would not be possible for a company to operate as an indemnified ambulance service in the State without statutory recognition by the Council. It is understood that PHECC has completed inspections of all private providers in Ireland.

Question No. 750 answered with Question No. 739.

Health Services Provision

Questions (751)

Tom Fleming

Question:

751. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will, make the necessary funding and resources available in the 2014 Health Service Executive service plan in respect of expanding the services provided by an organisation (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will take into consideration that this is the only such service available to children in the south Kerry and Iveragh area; if he will take into consideration the long distances families will have to travel if the service continues to be downgraded or closed; if he will ensure this vital service will always be available to new applicants and existing clients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55294/13]

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Written answers

As the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.

Health Services Provision

Questions (752)

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin

Question:

752. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if permission has been granted to allow for emergency helicopter landings in the Beaumont Woods estate; and if such permission has been granted, in the interest of transparency, if he will disclose the full criteria and details. [55300/13]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.

Medical Card Appeals

Questions (753)

Tom Fleming

Question:

753. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55311/13]

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Written answers

Hospital Staff Data

Questions (754, 755, 756, 757)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

754. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of consultant positions in hospitals filled through agency consultants appointments in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55325/13]

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Jerry Buttimer

Question:

755. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the amount spent in each year on agency consultant appointments, broken down by wages and agency fees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55326/13]

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Jerry Buttimer

Question:

756. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if analysis has been conducted on the cost differential between the amount spent on agency consultants and costs of direct employment of consultant doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55327/13]

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Jerry Buttimer

Question:

757. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the number of unfilled consultant posts that are currently being filled by agency consultants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55328/13]

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Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 754 to 757, inclusive, together.

As the questions raised by the Deputy relate to service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Questions (758)

Billy Kelleher

Question:

758. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health when a resolution will be found between the Health Service Executive and his Department as to who is responsible for providing a person (details supplied) in County Cork with an iPad to help them communicate and to assist with their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55332/13]

View answer

Written answers

The provision of assistive technology for educational purposes to pupils in primary, post primary and special schools is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Education and Skills. I understand that the Department of Education and Skills is currently processing an application for assistive technology support for the child referred to by the Deputy and that Minister Ruairí Quinn will reply directly to the Deputy in this regard.

The Health Service Executive provides funding for communication devices which have a general application outside of the school setting, through its Aids and Appliances Scheme. Funding under this Scheme is dispersed by local HSE services to local community care clinics or voluntary agencies. Information on the Scheme is available from local Health Centres.

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