Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:754. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an appointment for a hip replacement. [4071/14]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (754)
Written answers
The National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to this particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy in this matter.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (755)
Bernard Durkan
Question:755. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will indicate eligibility for a long-term illness card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4078/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (756)
Arthur Spring
Question:756. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health the reason, in the event of a delay of a medical card being renewed, that payments are not backdated to the time of the expiry of the medical card, thus leaving the patient who is worthy of a medical card to pay for medical services when he or she cannot afford to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4080/14]
View answerWritten answers
All medical card and GP visit card holders are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility.
Ordinarily, three months before an individual’s existing medical card/GP visit card eligibility expiry date, a review notification issues to the individual (or their parents, in the case of a child). A review notification will indicate that either a self assessment is completed by the card holder themselves or request that the card holder return evidence of household income, assessable outgoings, and medical circumstances to enable a full review assessment be conducted by the HSE.
A reminder letter is issued a month later if the requested review form details have not been received at that point. If a person does not return their review form within the time specified, their continuing eligibility cannot be confirmed and their medical card/GP visit card cannot be reissued. In these circumstances, or where the review process establishes that a person no longer holds eligibility, the eligibility ceases.
Persons are requested to return their completed review forms, at least one month in advance of the due expiry date of their existing eligibility in order to give the HSE sufficient time to carry out the review and/or to get back to the person if the application is incomplete or requires any further details to be provided.
A person (and their dependants, if it applies), the subject of a medical card/GP visit card eligibility review assessment, will continue to have their eligibility extended pending the outcome of a review assessment, provided
1. they have returned their review form within the time specified, and
2. are engaging with the HSE in enabling their review assessment to complete.
The medical card/GP visit card holder does not need to take any action other than genuinely co-operate with the review process and communicate with the HSE on an ongoing basis throughout the process. If the HSE is made aware that a person has a disability or special needs, assistance will be afforded to help that person complete the review application and explain the support documentation they need to send. The local health office can be contacted or LoCall 1890 252 919 to request this assistance.
A medical card/GP visit card holder who genuinely engages with the review will not have their eligibility withdrawn before that review is complete.
In addition, GPs are advised three months in advance of the review dates of their patients’ GP visit cards/medical cards, and subsequently the following month, and the month after that, if the patient has not returned their review form by that time.
GPs have full electronic visibility of their GP visit/medical card panel of patients and have the facility to electronically allow temporary extension of eligibility for expiring cards where a sensitive renewal is appropriate, or where they are aware that a person is still availing of services but there may be something that prevents them from carrying out a standard review, e.g. a blind person with little family support. GPs can also add new babies to existing cards. All GPs have appropriate electronic access to the medial card eligibility database and they do not have to confirm medical card details by contacting HSE PCRS.
The HSE also undertakes reviews of medical card/GP visit card eligibility, whereby selected cardholders are asked to confirm that they are ordinarily resident in Ireland. Being ordinarily resident in Ireland is a prerequisite for medical card/GP visit card eligibility. Approximately 10,000 letters are issued each month and the cardholder is asked to sign and return to the HSE a Declaration of Residency form. On receipt of this Declaration, eligibility to the GMS Scheme continues. If a person does not return the Declaration of Residency form, their eligibility ceases.
An individual must have approved medical card eligibility in order to avail, free of charge (except for payment of prescription charge) of social and medical services provided under the General Medical Card scheme, at the time they present for such services. Medical card/GP visit card eligibility is approved with effect from the date a person’s application/review application is assessed as meeting the criteria to qualify for a medical card/GP visit card. If an individual allows their eligibility to lapse by not responding in time to a review application, a future renewal of eligibility will date only from when the review assessment is updated.
To avoid letting their eligibility lapse and avoid incurring costs that would otherwise be covered under GMS eligibility, persons that are the subject of a review notification must co-operate in returning a completed review form so that their eligibility is extended pending the review decision.
In addition, a person (and their dependants, if any) that is assessed on review as ineligible for medical card/GP visit card renewal and makes appeal of this decision within the time allowed, will retain their eligibility pending the appeal decision.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (757)
Róisín Shortall
Question:757. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 334 of 16 January 2014, the reason general travel costs, as distinct from travel to work costs, are not considered as part of the medical card means assessment, in cases where the applicant is dependent on his or her vehicle due to illness or disability; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4086/14]
View answerWritten answers
Medical cards are provided to persons who, under the provisions of the Health Act 1970, are in the opinion of the HSE unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. The assessment for a medical card is determined primarily by reference to the means, including the income and reasonable expenditure, of the applicant and his or her partner and dependants. Under the legislation, determination of eligibility for a medical card is the responsibility of the HSE.
All General Medical Service applications are assessed equitably and impartially by the HSE under the assessment guidelines which provide a clear framework to assist in the making of reasonable, consistent and equitable decisions. These guidelines are publicly available and can be downloaded from the HSE's medical card website.
While there is no automatic entitlement to a medical card for persons with specific illnesses, or with a disability, the HSE has discretion to award a medical card to avoid undue hardship, even where the person exceeds the income guidelines. The HSE has established panel of Community Medical Officers to assist in the processing of applications for medical cards on a discretionary basis, where a person exceeds the income guidelines but where there are difficult personal circumstances, such as an illness or physical disability.
As stated in our previous response, where public transport is not available or suitable and a car is required, reasonable travel costs will be allowed as set out hereunder:
- 18c per km/30c per mile to cover running costs
- car pooling arrangements and any contribution towards costs should be taken into account
- in the case of a couple where they require two cars to travel to work and meet the above requirements, both sets of trips will be taken into account
- the rate per km/mile does not contain any element towards parking costs and where, they are an issue, they should be included on an actual cost basis.
The Government, conscious of the position of the Ombudsman that the Mobility Allowance and the Motorised Transport Grant schemes are illegal in the context of the Equal Status Acts closed both schemes to new entrants on 26th February 2013.
In December 2013, the Government 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. 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.
The Revenue Commissioners operates the Disabled Drivers and Disabled Passengers Scheme which provides a range of tax reliefs linked to the purchase and use of vehicles by disabled drivers and disabled passengers in Ireland. Under the terms of the scheme, qualifying individuals can claim remission or repayment of vehicle registration tax, repayment of value-added tax on the purchase of a vehicle and repayment of VAT on the cost of adapting a vehicle for a disabled driver or a disabled passenger. Furthermore, qualifying individuals may also claim repayment of excise duty on fuel used in a vehicle for the transport of a disabled person, up to a maximum of 600 gallons per year. In addition, if you qualify under the scheme, your vehicle may be exempt from the payment of annual road tax on application to a Motor Tax Office.Details of this scheme and qualifying criteria are available on http://www.citizensinformation.ie and http://www.revenue.ie/
Hospital Services
Questions (758)
Billy Kelleher
Question:758. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the sums of money raised on an annual basis at each hospital that has introduced premium call lines for the booking of blood tests since its inception at each individual hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4099/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (759)
Billy Kelleher
Question:759. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4100/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Data
Questions (760)
Seamus Kirk
Question:760. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health the number of persons who are partaking in the long-term illness scheme; if he will provide a full patient breakdown in regard to diseases; the total cost to the Exchequer of running the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4102/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
General Practitioner Services Provision
Questions (761)
Seamus Kirk
Question:761. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health further to the proposed free general practitioner visit announced in budget 2012 for persons who are under the long-term illness scheme, the date when this budgetary promise will commence; the total cost to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4103/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its first term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework. This policy constitutes a fundamental element in the Government’s health reform programme. There has been no change to the Government’s over-arching commitment to this goal. This Government is the first in the history of this State to have committed itself to implementing a universal GP service for the entire population.
Having examined the progress made in the universal GP care plan, it became clear that the legal and administrative framework required to provide a robust basis for eligibility for a GP service based on having a particular medical condition is likely to be overly complex and bureaucratic for a short-term arrangement. Relatively complex primary legislation would be required in order to provide a GP service to a person on the basis of their having a particular illness. The assessment system for such an approach would have to be robust, objective and auditable in order to have the confidence of this House as well as the general public. This legislation would have to address how a person could be certified as having such an illness, and who could do this, and how to select the diagnostic basis for medical conditions. As well as primary legislation, there would be a need for secondary legislation to give full effect to this approach for each condition. While it would not be impossible to achieve this, it would take several months more to finalise the primary legislation, followed then by the preparation of statutory instruments. In my view, this would entail putting in place a cumbersome legal and administrative infrastructure to deal with what is only a temporary first phase on the way to universal GP service to the entire population. The Government having considered this matter, announced, as part of Budget 2014, that it will commence the roll-out of a universal GP service by providing all children aged 5 and under with access to a GP service without fees.
Health Services Staff
Questions (762)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:762. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health if he has received complaints regarding the national communications director of the Health Service Executive which alleges behaviour that seeks to silence or intimidate medical columnists who are highlighting issues of genuine public concern (details supplied); if he has acted to investigate and resolve the issue; the actions taken by the national communications director regarding this article; if the director acted on his own or was he directed to do so; if the actions of the director are condoned by him; and the repercussions, if any, for the director with regard to his actions. [4127/14]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no record of having received such complaints and as the individual is an employee of the Health Service Executive it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (763)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:763. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4133/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Ambulance Service Response Times
Questions (764)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:764. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the ambulance arrival time at the death of a person (details supplied); and the paramedic arrival time. [4138/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy cannot be provided at this time as the matter is the subject of a criminal investigation by An Garda Síochána.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (765)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:765. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he will provide this Deputy with the internal safety audit that was carried out on the new national emergency call centre in Townsend Street in Dublin and all of the details contained therein; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4139/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (766, 767)
Ciara Conway
Question:766. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the length of the waiting list for a service (details supplied) in Dungarvan Community Hospital, County Waterford; if he will provide a specific breakdown outlining patients waiting in excess of one month, three months, six months, nine months, 12 months, 18 months, 24 months, 30 months and so on; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4148/14]
View answerCiara Conway
Question:767. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in a service (details supplied) in Dungarvan Community Hospital, County Waterford; if this is due to staff shortages; the measures that are being taken to address same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4149/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 766 and 767 together.
As these are service issues, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
Health Services Staff
Questions (768)
Andrew Doyle
Question:768. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Minister for Health the reason section 39 agencies are not allowed to participate in the incentivised career break in line with Health Service Executive staff. [4155/14]
View answerWritten answers
In May 2013 my Department issued a Circular letter to the HSE, authorising the introduction of an incentivised career break scheme in the HSE and in organisations funded by the HSE under Section 38 of the Health Act 2004. The scheme was intended as a mechanism to assist managers to achieve the numbers reduction required under the 2013 Employment Control Framework, as well as the corresponding reduction in expenditure, while delivering the agreed level of service.
Staff in organisations funded under Section 39 of the Health Act 2004 are not classified as public servants. They are not counted in public service numbers, do not have public service pensions and are not bound by the Department of Health Consolidated Salary Scales. They are thus not eligible to participate in the HSE's incentivised career break scheme.
Ambulance Service Staff
Questions (769)
Peadar Tóibín
Question:769. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Health the number of paramedics that left the national ambulance service in the past three years; the number that cited stress for their departure; the number that cited bullying for their departure; the number of national ambulance service personnel on leave due to illness; and the number of these that are on leave due to stress. [4209/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Departmental Bodies
Questions (770)
Michael McGrath
Question:770. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will, in respect of his Department's audit committee, provide details of its current membership; the date of appointment of each member; the fees paid to each member; if members of the committee are required to hold certain professional qualifications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4219/14]
View answerWritten answers
The audit committee in the Department of Health was established in 2004 and operates under a written charter. The committee consists of five members, two of whom are external to the Department.
Members of the committee are not obliged to hold any specific professional qualifications. However, members are appointed having regard to their relevant qualifications, appropriate expertise and experience.
Members are appointed by the Secretary General and there is currently one vacancy on the committee which is in the process of being filled.
Fees are paid to the Chair only, at a per diem rate approved by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Details of the dates of appointment and fees paid are set out in the table below:
|
- |
- |
- |
Fees Paid |
|
Current Membership |
Date of Appointment |
Current Per Diem Rate |
Fees Paid in 2013 |
|
- |
- |
- |
External Members |
|
Sean Benton (Chair) |
1st October 2010 (2nd Term) |
€363.06 |
€736.99 |
|
Vacancy |
- |
- |
- |
|
- |
- |
- |
Internal Members |
|
Fergal Lynch (Deputy Secretary) |
1st February 2010 (2nd Term) |
- |
- |
|
Deirdre Walsh (Principal Officer) |
29th September 2011 |
- |
- |
|
Matt Collins (Principal Officer) |
29th September 2011 |
- |
- |
Mental Health Services Funding
Questions (771)
Jerry Buttimer
Question:771. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health if he will furnish details on expenditure on mental health, including A Vision for Change, in 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4298/14]
View answerWritten answers
Details of the overall gross non-capital mental health budget are published annually in the Revised Book of Estimates. Based on that information, the table below details the mental health budget for each of the years 2011 - 2013 inclusive:
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
|
€712 million |
€711 million |
€737 million |
The estimated provision for mental health in 2014 is €766 million. This figure includes the additional funding of €90 million that has been provided for the development of mental health services in line with A Vision for Change since 2012.
In addition, about 1 in 4 people experience mental health problems in their lifetime, many of whom will be dealt with in primary care. It is estimated that approximately 90% of mental health problems are dealt with in primary care and some 30% of people who attend primary care have a mental health problem and expenditure on these services is not captured in the health budgets detailed above.
Cancer Incidence
Questions (772)
Timmy Dooley
Question:772. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the medical reasons for prioritising the treatment of cancer by means of chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery as opposed to treating it by natural products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4302/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE-National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) works within international standards of practice that reflect best available evidence.
The NCCP was set up in 2007 to provide a comprehensive programme of cancer control in Ireland, to transform how cancer care is delivered and to ensure that cancer services meet the highest standards. Cancer services have been reorganised in line with best practice to ensure that patients are treated in locations that have the expertise, multi-disciplinary specialist skills and case volume to provide optimum treatment.
Chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery are prioritised for cancer treatment because of the weight of evidence supporting such approaches and because of the outcomes being achieved. A huge range of alternative and complementary treatments are marketed but unless there is compelling evidence to indicate that a particular medication is of clinical benefit to a patient, physicians would generally not recommend them.
Ireland has achieved significant improvement in the rates of cancer survival in recent years. Five-year survival rates for all cancers has increased to 56.4% for people diagnosed between 2003-2007, compared to 49.6% for people diagnosed in 1998-2002.
Care of the Elderly Provision
Questions (773)
Catherine Byrne
Question:773. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health if he will secure funding for a care package in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 12. [4303/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Care Services Provision
Questions (774)
Finian McGrath
Question:774. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason for the cut in services in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 3; if he will reinstate the full service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4310/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Care Services Provision
Questions (775)
Finian McGrath
Question:775. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a FETAC level 5 exam in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4311/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have been advised by the HSE that the person concerned is not an employee of the Executive and is in fact an employee of Raheny Home Help, a voluntary organisation. In these circumstances the issue raised by the Deputy, the need for the level five qualification, is a 'conditions of employment' matter between Raheny Home Help and the person concerned.
Questions (776)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:776. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the action he has taken in respect of children who received the swine flu Pandemrix injection and have developed narcolepsy as a result (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4323/14]
View answerWritten answers
I note with optimism that early indications from scientific and medical research into narcolepsy suggest that the prognosis for children may be better that previously indicated and that they should, with appropriate medication and supports, be able to reach their potential.
The HSE and the Department of Education and Skills continue to provide a range of services and supports to individuals diagnosed with narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination regardless of age, on an ex-gratia basis. These services and supports which are co-ordinated by the HSE National Advocacy Unit are intended to provide that individuals receive tailored assistance to address their specific requirements, where appropriate. It is acknowledged that treatment and individual medical needs may need to be reassessed over time to take account of changes in their condition or circumstances.
The ex-gratia health supports include clinical care pathways to ensure access to rapid diagnosis and treatment, multi-disciplinary assessments led by clinical experts, counselling services for both the individuals and their families, discretionary medical cards for those who have been diagnosed have been provided to allow unlimited access to GP care and any prescribed medication, ex-gratia reimbursement of vouched expenses incurred in the process of diagnosis and treatment, including travel expenses for attending medical appointments; physiotherapy, occupational therapy assessments, dental assessments and dietary services all on a needs basis. Regional co-ordinators have been appointed to assist individuals to provide advice, information and access to local services.
On the education side, the National Educational Psychological Services (NEPS) engaged with all of the schools being attended by children with narcolepsy to provide guidance and assistance on the condition and the supports available. These include special education home tuition, the provision of supplemental learning support/resource teaching support on a needs basis and the provision of Special Needs Assistants (SNA) support if required. Furthermore, reasonable accommodations, including special examination centres and rest breaks were provided for students who sat state exams last June. Similar arrangements will be available on a needs basis to students sitting state exams in future years. The Department of Education and Skills issued circulars providing information to schools on the nature, likely symptoms, possible effect of the condition of narcolepsy on students and the supports available for students.
With regard to third level, students diagnosed with narcolepsy following pandemic vaccination can access the Disability Access Route to Education (DARE) scheme, which is a college/university scheme which offers enhanced access routes to third level education.
All health and educational services and supports will continue to be provided on an ex-gratia basis. Those services and supports will be reassessed on an ongoing basis to take account of the individual's condition and circumstances.
Health Services Provision
Questions (777)
Catherine Byrne
Question:777. Deputy Catherine Byrne asked the Minister for Health the number, location and average stay in stabilisation service beds, community-based residential detoxification beds, medical detoxification unit beds and step down or half way house beds available for persons with addiction problems identifying which services treat persons with both an addiction and mental health issue dual diagnosis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4325/14]
View answerWritten answers
The information requested by the Deputy is not readily available to my Department. I have asked the Health Service Executive to compile the information requested by the Deputy and to reply to her directly.