Barry Cowen
Question:250. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [11338/14]
View answerMedical Card Applications
Questions (250)
Written 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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (251)
Barry Cowen
Question:251. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly may expect a decision on an application for a medical card. [11339/14]
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.
Hospital Services
Questions (252)
Michael McNamara
Question:252. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Health when the Health Service Executive will meet Raheen Hospital Support Group; if he will outline the detailed plans for the upgrade of Raheen Community Hospital to Health Information Quality Authority standards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11360/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
General Practitioner Services
Questions (253)
Pat Deering
Question:253. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the process he has put in place for consultation-negotiation of proposed new contracts between the Irish Medical Organisation and the Health Service Executive-Department of Health. [11362/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Government is committed to introducing, on a phased basis, a universal GP service without fees within its term of office, as set out in the Programme for Government and the Future Health strategy framework.
As announced in the Budget, it has been decided to 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.
The implementation of this measure will require primary legislation. The necessary administrative arrangements will be made when the specifics of the legislation are known.
A public consultation process started on 31 January 2014 relating to the content and scope of a new GP contract to underpin the provision of GP care, free at the point of use, for all children aged under six years. I met with key stakeholders on 31 January - the Irish College of General Practitioners (ICGP), the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) and the National Association of General Practitioners (NAGP) – to brief them on Government policy concerning the introduction of a universal GP service without fees and in particular, on the first phase concerning children under 6 years.
It is my intention to meet with the GP representative bodies in the coming weeks for detailed discussions on the scope and content of the draft contract. This will afford them the fullest opportunity to raise any and all issues which they may have regarding the draft contract. It will also enable them to make their own proposals as to how the draft contract may be improved. Consequently, I have no doubt that there will be changes to the text of the draft contract following the consultation process.
On 27 February 2014, I wrote to the IMO stating that the Department and the HSE are fully prepared to engage meaningfully with them and are prepared to negotiate with them on all aspects of the scope and content of the proposed contract. However, the ultimate setting of fees must remain a matter for the Minister for Health, though there will be an opportunity for their input on this aspect, and on the fee structure, which it is proposed to address by means of a separate consultation process. I have formally invited the IMO to meet with the Department and the HSE to commence this process during this week or on another mutually agreeable date if this week does not suit.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (254)
Tom Fleming
Question:254. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11369/14]
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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (255)
Pat Breen
Question:255. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when payment under the fair deal scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11370/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Medical Card Eligibility
Questions (256)
Bernard Durkan
Question:256. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in redetermination of eligibility for medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11380/14]
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.
Primary Care Centre Provision
Questions (257)
Michael P. Kitt
Question:257. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health when the public-private partnership for a primary health centre (details supplied) in County Galway will be going ahead; when the other services will be available on this site; when the project will go to tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11386/14]
View answerWritten answers
Delivery of healthcare facilities is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Health Services Provision
Questions (258)
Joan Collins
Question:258. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if there is any public hospital or clinic here providing specialist neurophysiotherapy for patients with functional neurological symptoms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11397/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Drug Treatment Programmes Availability
Questions (259)
Terence Flanagan
Question:259. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of chemists where there is agreement in place between local pharmacies and the Health Service Executive regarding the dispensing of methadone to drug users (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11405/14]
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 him directly.
Home Help Service Provision
Questions (260)
Brendan Griffin
Question:260. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if Health Service Executive home help employees in rural areas will be provided with contracts that reflect the current level of hours they are providing and not the 27 hour contracts that they have been offered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11408/14]
View answerWritten answers
I, and the Government, recognise the importance of home help and home care in supporting older persons to live in their own homes and communities in accordance with Government policy.
In September 2013 the Labour Court issued a binding recommendation to the HSE, SIPTU and IMPACT stipulating that Home Helps receive a guaranteed minimum number of working hours per week. The recommendation provided for Home Helps being guaranteed 80% of the hours they worked in the period between 1 October 2011 and 31 March 2012 per week in new contracts. The HSE National Service Plan 2014 states that the Home Help agreement will be implemented across each Integrated Service Area in line with the Labour Court recommendation. Implementation of the recommendation will support the development of the Home Help Service in the interests of clients and provide security of employment for Home Helps.
As the specific issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter, I have arranged for the question to be forwarded to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Clinical Trials
Questions (261)
Clare Daly
Question:261. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of patients at Tullamore Hospital involved in a medical trial involving the use of bioactive glass in the treatment of resistant osteomyelitis. [11410/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Medical Card Data
Questions (262)
Billy Kelleher
Question:262. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards as of 1 March 2014; the total number of GP cards on the same date; and the total number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [11420/14]
View answerWritten answers
The table below provides the card types and numbers as a 1 February 2014. The March figures, as requested by Deputy, are not as yet collated.
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,840,760 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
50,505 |
|
GP Visit cards |
125,930 |
|
of which granted on the basis of discretion |
27,204 |