Written Answers Nos. 759-773
759. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who have retired from the Health Service Executive on pensions and lump sums and are now back in temporary employment in the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55351/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter the question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
760. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the steps that have been made to date to make savings from hospital consultants pay since 2011; and if there plans to examine further terms and conditions of consultants' contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55352/13]
View answerSignificant steps have been taken to make savings from hospital consultants' pay since 2011.
The salary scales for new entrant consultants were reduced by 10% with effect from 1st January 2011. A further reduction of 30% was applied to these scales for those interviewed for posts on or after 1st October 2012. Serving consultants interviewed for academic posts on or after 1st October 2012 are allowed retain their existing salaries. In addition, on 1st July of 2013 consultants' pay was reduced in line with the provisions of the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Act 2013. As set out in the Haddington Road Agreement, these reductions were not applied to the 1 October 2012 pay scales, having regard to the level of reduction already applied. Consultants have also been subject to changes in work practices under the PSA. These include the range of flexibilities agreed at the LRC in September 2012 to enhance productivity and efficiency. Arising from the LRC engagement, two items were referred to the Labour Court for a binding ruling – current rest day entitlements and the fee payable for second opinions under the Mental Health Acts. A third issue, historic rest days, was referred under the normal IR processes.
The Court recommended a 25% reduction in each consultant's entitlement to historic rest leave and that this must be used by 2020. Management are giving effect to this recommendation. In relation to rest day entitlements the Labour Court recommended that compensatory rest be given in respect of actual call-out time only rather than leave (in the form of rest days) whether there is a call-out or not. Implementation of this recommendation is under discussion in order to ensure workable arrangements that will not adversely affect care. The Court recommended that the fee payable to Consultant Psychiatrists for the provision of a Second Opinion under the Mental Health Act, 2001 be addressed as part of the review of allowances in the public service. This matter will be dealt with in accordance with paragraph 2.27 of the Haddington Road Agreement. This Agreement encompasses a range of productivity measures and workplace reform including additional working hours.
At this time, beyond the issues outlined, there are no plans to examine further the terms and conditions of the consultants contract. However, as set out in the Haddington Road Agreement, the measures specified therein on productivity, cost extraction and reform must be achieved.
761. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of discretionary medical cards he expects to be in place in 2014; the reason the 2014 Health Service Executive service plan did not provide such information unlike previous service plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55370/13]
View answerThe 1970 Health Act provides that persons who are unable, without undue hardship, to arrange GP services for themselves and family qualify for a medical card, having regard to the overall financial situation of the applicant and his/her dependants.
Applications are, in the first instance, subject to a means assessment to determine if assessable income declared is within the set income limits to qualify for a medical card or a GP visit card. Medical card and GP visit card applications are considered in accordance with the Medical Card and GP Visit Card National Assessment Guidelines and where applicable, may be assessed on discretionary grounds and this assessment is based on the merits of each application.
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. Eligibility may be granted on a discretionary basis if these circumstances are such that a person cannot access General Practitioner or other medical services, without undue financial hardship. There can be a significant crossover between social and medical circumstances and applications do not fall discretely into these specific categories. The process where the application of discretion may be considered includes a review by HSE Medical Officers led by a Principal Medical Officer.
There is no such entity as a discretionary medical card and it is important to clarify that there is only one medical card. Again, a medical card is either approved on foot of a means assessment, which meet the current financial guidelines, or where the means test does not meet the guidelines and the HSE, having considered all of the circumstances, has applied discretion and granted a medical card because the family cannot access General Practitioner and other medical services without undue financial hardship.
762. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health if he will supply documents that show the way the money follows the client model is applied to an organisation (details supplied) in County Meath; the way this is broken down on a client category basis; if there are plans to change this for the organisation concerned in 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55372/13]
View answerAs 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.
763. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Health the amount of funding that will be available to an organisation (details supplied) in County Meath in 2014 under its SLA agreement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55373/13]
View answerThis question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
764. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in respect of an appeal for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55375/13]
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.
765. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health if he will include the restrictions on sunbed use to persons with type one and type two skin in the Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55409/13]
View answerMy view is that there should be a ban on the sale or hire of sunbeds to those under 18 years of age and also a ban on the use of sunbeds in commercial premises by those under 18 years of age. Adults should be given sufficient information and advice to allow them to make informed choices about sunbed use. In this regard, there are a number of measures proposed in the Public Health (Sunbeds) Bill 2013, which was published in December 2013, including the provision of information on the risks associated with sunbed use and warning signs, which will enable adults to make informed choices.
The advice available to me is that cohorts of the adult population at increased risk from ultra-violet radiation can best be dealt with by way of regulation rather than a prohibition. My Department has also been advised that prohibition based on certain skin types would, in all likelihood, be incompatible with equality legislation.
766. Deputy Regina Doherty asked the Minister for Health his plans to roll out the national epilepsy programme, with particular regard to the monitoring units for epilepsy in County Cork; when these units will be staffed and open; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55412/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
767. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55422/13]
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.
768. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which agency staff have been used in his Department in each of the past five years for the purpose of answering and transferring calls on their switchdesk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55436/13]
View answerEircom has the contract for the supply of telephonists to service the switchboard for my Department and for this purpose they provide three full time agency staff.
769. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if the Health Service Executive intends to increase the number of intermediate care beds at a facility (details supplied) in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55450/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
770. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health the specific role his Department is playing in the event that the Health Service Executive budget for pension lump sums is not sufficient to pay the numbers of staff retiring; if he will confirm if there are other roles that his Department is playing alongside the Department of the Taoiseach concerning the €63 million against the elimination of the €113 million probity detailed in the HSE service plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55456/13]
View answerTaking into account that there have been two incentivised exit schemes available to HSE staff over the last couple of years, it is difficult to determine the number of staff who will retire this year. My Department will of course continue to work closely with the HSE and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to ensure the availability of adequate funding to cover any requisite lump sum payments.
772. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health if following the publication of the 2014 Health Service Executive service plan funding remains in place for the construction of a care centre (details suppplied) in Dublin 15 primary care centre which is a specific commitment from Government. [55473/13]
View answerThe primary care centre for the specified location was approved in 2012 in the context of the approval of the HSE's multi-annual Capital Plan 2012-2016. Its 2014 capital requirements will be met from the the HSE's 2014 capital allocation. The HSE's approved 2014 National Service Plan states that it is expected that the primary care centre at the specified location will be completed by Q4 2014 and be fully operational by Q1 2015.
Your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for an update on progress to date as the delivery of healthcare infrastructure is a service matter.
773. Deputy Patrick Nulty asked the Minister for Health when the opening of beds at a hospice (details supplied) in Dublin 15 outlined in the 2014 Health Service Executive service plan will commence. [55474/13]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
