Tom Fleming
Question:195. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card appeal in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14492/14]
View answerMedical Card Appeals
Questions (195)
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 (196)
Seán Ó Fearghaíl
Question:196. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14504/14]
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 Provision
Questions (197)
Stephen Donnelly
Question:197. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of ambulance service shifts dropped each month in the past 12 months for every ambulance base in the country; and the number of dropped shifts that were night shifts and the number that were day shifts. [14508/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (198, 206)
Michael McCarthy
Question:198. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made to introduce a vaccination for meningitis B; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14519/14]
View answer
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:206. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health if he proposes to introduce the new vaccine for the B strain of meningitis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14564/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 206 together.
The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has not made any recommendation in relation to the use of Meningitis B vaccine in the primary childhood immunisation programme in Ireland. However NIAC has issued guidance in relation to the use of the Meningitis B vaccine in the control of clusters or outbreaks of Meningococcal B disease.
Maternity Services Provision
Questions (199)
Charles Flanagan
Question:199. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 73 of 13 February 2014, in view of the publication on the report of the Chief Medical Officer of his Department, how the issues as raised in the question might be addressed. [14528/14]
View answerWritten answers
As the Deputy will be aware, on 24th February last, the Chief Medical Officer's Report into Perinatal Deaths at Midland Regional Hospital Portlaoise 2006 to date was published. The Report recognises that clear failures in the management of risk and patient safety occurred in Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Service. These failures were at a number of levels, both local and national. In order to address the situation the Report makes 42 recommendations, all of which I have accepted. This Report will also of course inform the new National Maternity Service Strategy which will be delivered later this year.
I would draw attention in particular to the urgent recommendation that Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Services become part of a managed clinical network under a singular governance model with the Coombe Women & Infant University Hospital. Pending implementation of this recommendation, a team was put in place on 28th February to run the Portlaoise Hospital Maternity Service. I am satisfied that the Hospital will, through the establishment of this managed clinical network with the Coombe, be supported to ensure the provision of improved, safer, patient centred maternity services.
In addition to the Portlaoise Report, I have requested that HIQA carry out an investigation in accordance with Section 9 (2) of the Health Act 2007 as well as undertake an immediate assessment of the patient safety culture at Portlaoise Hospital. The Board of HIQA has now approved the commencement of a Section 9 investigation, the Terms of Reference of which were published on Friday 21st March last.
HSE Investigations
Questions (200)
Charles Flanagan
Question:200. Deputy Charles Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 238 of 13 February 2014, if he will request of the Health Service Executive, and in particular its risk and incident investigation process management team, the number of reviews carried out at maternity units in the State in respect of perinatal or infant hospital deaths each year for the past ten years; if the number of such reviews will be disclosed and if not the reason for same. [14535/14]
View answerWritten answers
I advised the Deputy in my response to his Parliamentary Question of 13th February last, that the Health Service Executive's Risk and Incident Investigation Process provides a framework for conducting investigations into serious incidents. Investigations of serious incidents including baby deaths have been conducted under the Process with support provided by the Executive's National Incident Management Team as appropriate. The Department does not receive information on HSE investigations as a matter of course.
I have asked the HSE to provide the information requested by the Deputy to me as a matter of urgency. On receipt of same I will forward it the Deputy.
Nursing Staff Remuneration
Questions (201)
Tom Fleming
Question:201. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the basic rate of pay per hour of trainee nurses in each acute hospital; the basic rate of pay per hour of contract nurses in each acute hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14540/14]
View answerWritten answers
Fourth year undergraduate student nurses undertake a 36 week rostered placement as a key part of their degree programme. When doing so, they are not qualified nurses and require supervision. The following pay scales have been sanctioned, with the agreement of the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform, with effect from 1 July 2013. Slightly higher scales have been sanctioned for Mental Health Student Nurses undertaking the placement, maintaining previous relativities.
Salary Scales for Student Nurses* undertaking 36 week 4 th Year Clinical Placement
First one-third (12 weeks) - €6.49 per hour
Second one-third (12 weeks) - €6.92 per hour
Final one-third (12 weeks) - €7.79 per hour
*Including Midwifery, Children’s and Intellectual Disability.
Salary Scales for Mental Health Student Nurses undertaking 36 week 4 th Year Clinical Placement
First one-third (12 weeks) - €6.64 per hour
Second one-third (12 weeks) - €7.08 per hour
Final one-third (12 weeks) - €7.97 per hour.
The level of pay for this undergraduate placement, split into 3 twelve week periods, is in accordance with the relevant provisions of the National Minimum Wage Act. There are no plans to revise these scales at present.
The HSE, through agency providers, uses contract nurses where it is necessary to do so to ensure service delivery. With regard to pay levels for agency nurses, it is obliged to comply with the terms of the Protection of Employees (Temporary Agency Workers) Act, 2012. It also incurs VAT and commission. I have forwarded the question to the HSE for direct reply in relation to the rate per hour in each hospital.
Medical Aids and Appliances Provision
Questions (202)
John McGuinness
Question:202. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 686 of 18 February 2014, if a wheelchair will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [14545/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive has informed the Department that the previous parliamentary question has been referred to the local area for direct reply to the Deputy. The Department has asked the HSE to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible with the current position regarding the provision of a wheelchair for the named individual.
Medical Card Delays
Questions (203)
Michael Ring
Question:203. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not yet received a decision on his medical card application despite it having been the subject of assessment since October 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14547/14]
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.