Richard Boyd Barrett
Question:239. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an MRI scan in respect of a person (details supplied). [15708/14]
View answerHospital Appointments Status
Questions (239)
Written answers
In 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.
Hospital Appointments Status
Questions (240)
Brendan Griffin
Question:240. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding an eye appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15716/14]
View answerWritten answers
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the specific hospital appointment query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Tobacco Control Measures
Questions (241)
Finian McGrath
Question:241. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the reason a pub (details supplied) in Dublin 9 is being forced to change its smoking area again as this is extremely damaging for its customers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15726/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Departmental Banking
Questions (242)
Ciaran Lynch
Question:242. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health the duration of the merchant agreement where payment by debit or credit card is accepted for services provided by his Department or bodies under the aegis of his Department to the public; when the term of the agreement will end; if the merchant agreement is awarded by way of tender; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15740/14]
View answerWritten answers
Payments to my Department are made by cheque, postal order or electronic funds transfer to the Department's bank account at the Central Bank. My Department does not have a merchant account.
I have requested this information from bodies under the aegis of my Department and will have the relevant details forwarded to the Deputy when it is received.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (243)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:243. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the criteria that was used to determine that three ambulances in dynamic deployment could service a county the size of County Wexford with six towns and a population of 145,000; the person who made the decision; the number of emergency calls that were outside response time; if this will be reviewed and a full service put in place as a matter of urgency and public safety; the date on which this will happen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15747/14]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
Primary Care Reimbursement Service Payments
Questions (244, 256)
Aengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:244. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if consideration has been given to making the new drug in the treatment of hepatitis C, Telebiron or Vivtielis available to sufferers in the State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15774/14]
View answerAengus Ó Snodaigh
Question:256. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the reason the drugs Telebiron and Vivtielis are not available to hepatitis C sufferers; and if there are plans to make these drugs available in the future. [15858/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 244 and 256 together.
It is assumed the Deputy is referring to Telaprevir (Incivo) and Victrelis (Boceprevir). These drugs are currently available via the Primary Care Reimbursement Service Hepatitis C Reimbursement System, when prescribed via the eight National designated Hepatitis C centres.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (245)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:245. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health when the review of the ambulance service in County Kerry will take place; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15767/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (246)
Jack Wall
Question:246. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health if a person accepted on the fair deal funding will receive payment from the date of the acceptance or from the date that funding becomes available; if his attention has been drawn to the financial problems this will cause for families who have to obtain nursing home care for their loved ones due to necessity; the actions planned to overcome such difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15769/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE's National Guidelines for the Standardised Implementation of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme provide that State Support and Ancillary State Support should be paid from either the date that the release of funding is approved, or date of admission to the nursing home, whichever is the later. If payment were made from the earlier date fewer people could be supported overall.
The current average time for processing properly completed application forms received by the HSE is 4-6 weeks nationally. Applicants are placed on the national placement list for funding in chronological order by the date of determination of their application. Funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity of access nationally. As of the 25th March it was taking approximately 36 days for funding to issue to applicants from date of determination.