Written Answers Nos. 611-629
611. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health the level of ambulance cover available for the east Cork area on a 24-hour basis; his views on whether this level of cover is adequate; the average response times for the east Cork area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6662/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
612. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 487 of 10 December 2013, when he expects the Health Service Executive to supply information requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6670/14]
View answerMedical Card eligibility entitles medical card holders to receive health and social care services free of charge, as provided for under the General Medical Services Scheme. IVF is not a service that comes under the General Medical Services Scheme. Drugs used as part of fertility treatment are, however, covered under the Drugs Payments Scheme and High Tech Drug Arrangements. Under the Drugs Payments Scheme, any drug costing over €144 per calendar month, incurred as part of a person's fertility treatment, is covered by the HSE. A letter responding to the Deputy's question issued on 16 December 2013 and a copy of same has now re-issued.
613. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will investigate reports received by this Deputy that three relatives of the chief ambulance officer of the national ambulance service have recently been employed in the positions of ambulance control supervisor, acting team leader and ambulance controller following interviews by a panel, the membership of which included the chief ambulance officer; if these reports are confirmed, if such recruitment practices are deemed acceptable in the public service and if they might jeopardise health and safety considerations which should apply to the ambulance service; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6671/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
614. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card renewal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; the reason the applicant has not received any clarification of the position despite the fact that they were informed by their pharmacist that their card has not been renewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6672/14]
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.
615. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Longford has had their full medical card taken from them after five years and a general practitioner card issued instead; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6674/14]
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.
616. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide, in tabular form, the number of operations and-or procedures that were cancelled or postponed in each public hospital in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6680/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
617. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the number of procedures the special delivery unit-health service procured from private and or independent hospitals in 2013; the amount spent by the health service-SDU on these procedures in private and or independent hospitals in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6682/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed information requested by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
618. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Health the reason a blind welfare allowance has ceased in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6684/14]
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.
619. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an appointment for an eye examination and-or optical appliance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6711/14]
View answerOptometric services, including medical eye care, sight testing and optical appliances are provided by the HSE to medical card holders. The HSE has been asked to examine the particular query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
620. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health the number of Health Service Executive personnel assigned to dealing with media queries in respect of matters relating to HSE functions in County Laois and the HSE Dublin mid-Leinster area; and the number of those persons that took leave or were on holiday on 31 January 2014 [6712/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, the question has been referred to the HSE for a direct response to the Deputy.
621. Deputy Lucinda Creighton asked the Minister for Health when his Department is expected to complete the audit of hospitals on the way in which perinatal mortality statistics are being provided to the national perinatal epidemiology centre; if the findings of the audit will be published; the total number of officials responsible for conducting this audit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6733/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, my Chief Medical Officer is undertaking a report of maternity cases highlighted recently in Portlaoise Hospital. The scope of the report is currently being finalised and it would not be appropriate to comment on the final remit of the report at present. The findings of the CMO's report will inform any subsequent work to be done by HIQA or others including any wider review.
622. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health position regarding the application for a residential place in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 20; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6746/14]
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.
623. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on his Department's attitude to the Drogheda review and requests for transcripts by complaining attendees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6748/14]
View answer624. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount legal challenges are costing his Department and-or the Health Service Executive in respect of the High Court proceedings with the Information Commissioner and the Circuit Court proceedings with the Office of the Ombudsman in respect of the Drogheda review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6749/14]
View answer625. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the amount the legal challenge is costing his Department and-or the Health Service Executive in respect of last year's court decision that the transcripts of the attendees at the Drogheda review be handed over to the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6750/14]
View answer626. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health the projected full costs to his Department and-or the Health Service Executive of the decision to legally challenge and oppose the release of the transcripts of the complaining attendees to the Drogheda review. [6751/14]
View answer627. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health his reasons for opposing the provision of the transcripts of complaining attendees' evidence to the Drogheda review to the Ombudsman; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6752/14]
View answer628. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if he will review his decision not to hold a public inquiry into the circumstances of sexual abuse inflicted on patients in the hospital dealt with in the Drogheda review. [6753/14]
View answer629. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if in view of his acknowledgement in his recent reply to parliamentary questions that Dignity 4 Patients provides very valuable work, that he accepts that some of those hurt and distressed by the sexual abuse in the hospital covered by the Drogheda review prefer to avail of counselling facilities provided by Dignity for Patients; if he will make available the necessary funding to Dignity for Patients to manage, access and provide the counselling that the victims require. [6754/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 623 to 629, inclusive, together.
The High Court proceedings with the Information Commissioner and also the Circuit Court proceedings, initiated by the Office of the Ombudsman, are on-going and accordingly I am not in a position to make any further comment, as these matters are sub judice. The legal costs of the Department associated with these proceedings are borne by the Chief State Solicitor's Office vote. It is not possible to provide a reliable estimate of legal costs or projected full costs for all parties at this stage.
In relation to setting up an Inquiry, I have no plans to set up a further Inquiry on foot of the Drogheda Review. In October 2009, the then Minister for Health and Children announced the establishment of an independent non statutory review, the “Drogheda Review”. The purpose of this review was to advise on whether a further investigation into the procedures and practices at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital Drogheda during the period 1964 to 1995 to protect patients from sexual abuse while undergoing treatment or care at the hospital and to deal with allegations of sexual abuse against a certain doctor, would be likely to provide additional information or insights, which would be of significant public benefit in helping to improve best practice guidelines and policies. This review was carried out by retired High Court Judge T.C. Smyth. Judge Smyth submitted his report to the Minister in September 2010. The report recommended that a further investigation should not be held and that, in order to avoid prejudicing any civil or criminal cases, the report should not be published. I am aware that such proceedings are underway. A short summary of the report was, however, prepared and supplied to the patient support groups in January 2011.
Ongoing funding for health services is a matter for the HSE and I understand that the funding amounts set out in the table were provided to Dignity 4 Patients over the past four years to support the very valuable work that they offer to those who have suffered sexual assault or inappropriate sexual behaviour in a medical setting.
|
Year |
Funding |
|
2010 |
€171,890 National Lottery Grant |
|
2011 |
€4,000 National Lottery Grant €69,000 National Lottery Grant |
|
2012 |
€22,500 funding in two instalments |
|
2013 |
€22,500 funding in two instalments |
|
2014 |
€11,250 has been approved for payment and is currently being processed. |
The HSE has also indicated to Dignity 4 Patients that it is not in a position to provide funding towards ongoing staffing costs and accordingly, the funding provided may not be used to establish a counselling service for alleged victims. Dignity 4 Patients clients may avail of the HSE's National Counselling Service and the HSE has put in place arrangements which will permit clients referred by Dignity 4 Patients to be fast-tracked into counselling as is the case for victims of institutional abuse. The HSE has also suggested to Dignity 4 Patients that they consider establishing synergies with other similar agencies, in order that their client group can continue to be supported.
