Written Answers Nos. 230-236
230. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will make arrangements to ensure that a premises that was used as a doctor's clinic for persons with medical cards (details supplied) is retained at this location in view of the proposal to transfer a number of medical card patients to a doctor's surgery at a significant distance away which would be difficult for patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15555/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
231. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Laois will receive an appointment for orthodontic treatment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15556/14]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
232. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the Health Service Executive's policy in relation to mixed gender wards in hospitals; the number of hospitals that carry out this practice; the names of those hospitals and if there are mechanisms in place to end this practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15561/14]
View answerThe HSE has confirmed that it is not their practice to mix male and female patients in in-patient wards. However, while the situation is avoided where possible, all hospitals must optimise the availability and occupancy of all bed spaces. As a result, there are extenuating circumstances where mixed wards can occur in Emergency Departments, Acute Medical Assessment Units, Intensive Care Units and Coronary Care Units. In these situations best practices are in place to protect the privacy and dignity of patients. The ongoing improvements in ward accommodation and increase in single room accommodation aims to provide appropriate accommodation for all patients.
The HSE intends that all newly built acute hospital in-patient accommodation at new hospital builds, major additions to existing hospitals or major renovations to existing hospital in-patient accommodation areas should be made up entirely of single patient rooms and that all newly built non-acute hospital in-patient accommodation, when included within an acute hospital setting, should be made up of a minimum of 50% single patient rooms.
In relation to the particular queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
233. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health further to correspondence (details supplied), the reason two conflicting responses were given to the medical card query; the reason the case was suddenly closed where there was a request for information open, the delay from the Canadian side had been indicated and the PCRS had not indicated what information was required from Canada as requested; if the application will be reopened and a medical card granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15565/14]
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.
234. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress in respect of determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15593/14]
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.
235. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15595/14]
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.
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when an urgently needed appointment for an MRI scan will be facilitated in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15601/14]
View answerIn relation to the particular patient query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
