Written Answers Nos. 790-806
790. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health when he will make a decision on a new scheme to re-establish the mobility allowance scheme and the motorised transport grant scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55549/13]
View answer905. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he has considered the initial proposals of the interdepartmental group in relation to the setting up of a new scheme to replace the motorised transport grant and the mobility allowance scheme; the outcome of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1718/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 790 and 905 together.
Following detailed consideration of the Interim Report of the Review Group, established to seek an alternative method to provide for the priority transport needs of people in a manner that does not run counter to the Equal Status Acts, the Government decided that new statutory provisions should be established to provide individual payments to people with severe disabilities, who require additional income to address the costs of their mobility needs.
An Inter-Departmental Group was asked to develop detailed proposals, including eligibility criteria and administrative arrangements, and to report back to Government. Following receipt of the Inter-Departmental Group's initial proposals, the Government has decided that the detailed preparatory work required for a new travel subsidy scheme and associated statutory provisions will be progressed as a priority by the Minister for Health, in consultation with other relevant Ministers. Officials from the Department of Health are working to progress this matter and will engage with other Government Departments as required. The existing position regarding the Motorised Transport Grant remains as before i.e. the scheme remains closed. The Inter-Departmental Group will consider this further at a later date.
In the meantime, payments up to €208.50 per month will continue to be made by the Health Service Executive to current recipients of the Mobility Allowance for a further period, pending decisions on the new statutory scheme.
791. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) will receive a medical card on discretionary grounds. [55550/13]
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.
792. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Health when an appointment to see a rheumatologist in Beaumont Hospital will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55560/13]
View answerA maximum waiting time target of 12 months has been set for a first time consultant-led outpatient appointment and this is reflected in the HSE Service Plan. The SDU and the NTPF are working closely with hospitals towards achievement of the maximum waiting time.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
793. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite and award full medical cards in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55574/13]
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.
794. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55577/13]
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.
795. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the names of persons appointed by him to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board since taking office and the roles to which they were appointed. [55578/13]
View answerThe following members have been appointed to the Irish Blood Transfusion Service Board since March 2011:
|
Member |
Appointment Date |
|
Prof Anthony Staines (Chairperson) |
1 June 2012 |
|
Dr Lelia Thornton |
19 October 2011 |
|
Dr Paolo Rebulla |
1 June 2012 |
|
Dr Conor McGrane |
1 June 2012 |
|
Mr Brian O’Mahony |
1 June 2012 |
|
Mr John Cregan |
11 December 2012 |
|
Dr Paul Browne |
11 December 2012 |
|
Dr Cleona Duggan |
17 January 2013 |
|
Ms Olwyn Bennett |
14 February 2013 |
|
Ms Linda Hickey |
14 February 2013 |
|
Mr Gerard Kelly |
14 February 2013 |
796. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when 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. [55583/13]
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.
797. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55585/13]
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.
798. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a review of a medical card review in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55586/13]
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.
799. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite and award a discretionary medical card appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1000/14]
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.
800. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 10 December 2013, when a decision will be made on the appropriate strategy to be employed by the Health Service Executive in the provision of orthotics and prosthetics, addressing specific issues of concern which have already been identified by the HSE regarding the provision of such services. [1007/14]
View answer801. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 484 of 10 December 2013, if he intends to initiate regulations or legislation in the area of the provision of orthotics and prosthetic services; the actions that he will take to address potential issues of safety and clinical governance that arise due to the multiplicity of companies now supplying limbs. [1008/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 800 and 801 together.
I understand the Health Service Executive replied to the Deputy in relation to the previous parliamentary questions.
The HSE has informed the Deputy that orthotics and prosthetic services is an area that has been identified as requiring the development and implementation of a comprehensive procurement strategy. The HSE is currently giving due consideration to all of the elements involved in developing a comprehensive procurement strategy and is currently exploring options in relation to issues such as clinical governance, access and value for money. All suppliers of services will be required to comply with standards. Where patient care is concerned the HSE will explore the best model of clinical supervision in the provision of prosthetic, orthotic and limb absence rehabilitation (POLAR) services.
The HSE continues its work in developing an appropriate procurement strategy for this service.
802. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1014/14]
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.
803. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health the reason persons (details supplied) were refused a full medical card under appeal. [1015/14]
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.
804. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health if the National Ambulance Service is satisfied that it has sufficient resources to operate the ambulance service in the Drogheda area to the accepted international standard in terms of emergency response times; if the service is satisfied that the resources available in Drogheda are analogous to those available in similar scale population centres; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1016/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
805. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the implementation of A Vision for Change; if he will provide in tabular form the current status of each recommendation or action in the policy document in terms of whether it is completed, in progress or not commenced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1017/14]
View answer806. Deputy Simon Harris asked the Minister for Health when he expects A Vision for Change to be fully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1018/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 805 and 806 together.
A Vision for Change (AVFC), which was launched in 2006,provides a framework for action to develop a modern high quality mental health service over the following 7 to 10 year period. Implementation has been delayed by a number of factors including the changed economic context, constraints in public spending and the moratorium on recruitment. It is disappointing that the pace of change towards a modern, patient-centred, recovery orientated mental health service has been somewhat slower than expected but it is the Government's intention that over time access to modern mental health services in the community will be significantly improved. Since 2012, this Government has prioritised the reform of our mental health services with the provision of an additional €90 million and some 1,100 posts primarily to strengthen Community Mental Health Teams for both adults and children and to enhance specialist community mental health services for older people with a mental illness, those with an intellectual disability and mental illness and forensic mental health services in line with A Vision for Change.
A detailed progress report on implementation on each of the recommendations is not available. However, a great deal of progress has been made with the accelerated closure of old psychiatric hospitals and their replacement with bespoke new facilities, better suited to modern mental health care. Progress also includes the development of child and adolescent services, shorter episodes of in-patient care, the adoption of a recovery approach in the delivery of services and the involvement of service users in all aspects of mental health policy, service planning and delivery.
The establishment last year of the HSE Mental Health Services Division and the appointment of the National Director for Mental Health, delivers on a key recommendation of A Vision for Change. This new Division carries operational and financial authority and accountability for all mental services. I expect that this new structure within the HSE will accelerate the pace of change in the development of our mental health services.
The Health Service Executive's National Service Plan for 2014, setting out the type and volume of health and social services the HSE will provide during the course of this year, commits to a number of key deliverables in 2014 continuing to progress the key multi-annual priorities from previous years including implementing the Access Protocol for 16 and 17 year olds to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and reconfiguring General Adult Community Mental Health Teams (CMHT) to serve populations of 50,000 as recommended in A Vision for Change.
During 2014, the HSE will develop an implementation plan for the last 3 years of A Vision for Change and develop a Standard Model of Care. It will focus on developing a major work stream within the mental health clinical programme which will seek to address a variety of issues that have existed for some time and have been raised during the initial engagement process with internal and external stakeholders.
These include:
- Reduce variation and over time provide a relatively standard level of basic service regardless of location.
- Access to, from and flow through the services, general care pathways and out of hours access.
- How mental health can best support and integrate with primary care, acute hospitals and other services.
- A Change Management plan to get to the desired level of acute and non-acute beds, day hospitals versus day centre, etc.
- Involving service users, carers and family members – moving from consultation to co-production, and greater recovery focus.
In addition, the HSE will begin to address foundational issues within mental health services including
- Develop an initial workforce plan for 2014 to bring greater certainty around essential replacements
- Streamline recruitment to allow for more local control and specialisation where appropriate
- Develop an initial training and development strategy for Mental Health
- Build national capacity to respond in a standardised way to serious adverse incidents
- Commence key projects to address ICT gaps.
The National Mental Health Division is currently preparing a National Mental Health Divisional Plan which will detail further its objectives in 2014 and will include prioritised actions for each Mental Health Catchment Area. It is expected that the Divisional Plans will be considered by the HSE Directorate next week with a planned publication shortly thereafter.
