Skip to main content
Normal View

Thursday, 10 Apr 2014

Written Answers Nos. 206-212

Mental Health Awareness

Questions (206)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Question:

206. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health if he will address the reasons mental health promotion is not mentioned in the White Paper under health and wellbeing services; if he will ensure that primary care mental health services such as counselling services, as referred by GPs, will be included; if he will ensure that medical card holders will not lose their existing access to counselling through primary care services; if he will clarify whether mental health promotion, which focuses on protective factors and prevention reducing hospital costs in the long run will be included in publicly-funded health and well-being services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17178/14]

View answer

Written answers

The Programme for Government commits to the development of a modern, community-based mental health service and to the inclusion of a comprehensive range of mental health services within the standard UHI package.

The White Paper on Universal Health Insurance was published by Government on 2 April 2014. The White Paper indicates that under UHI, citizens will have access to a package of primary and acute hospital services, including acute mental health services. It also sets out policy proposals for the treatment of different service areas, including mental health and health and well-being, within the overall health basket. These proposals are not intended to be prescriptive about the services they encompass. They are intended to aid and guide the work of the Expert Commission which the Government will be establishing shortly.

The Expert Commission, which will consult widely, will be tasked with providing a series of costed options to the Government on the range of services to be included within the UHI standard package of services or within the overall health basket. The Joint Oireachtas Committee on Health and Children will also review the costed options presented by the Commission. The final decision on the services to be included in the UHI standard package and the overall health basket will be made by the Government. It is the Government's intention that medical card holders will continue to receive the same range of benefits under the future model.

Speech and Language Therapy Provision

Questions (207)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

207. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding physiotherapy and speech therapy in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17179/14]

View answer

Written answers

As the particular issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.

Orthodontic Services Provision

Questions (208)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

208. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the fitting of braces in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17181/14]

View answer

Written answers

The 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.

Nursing Home Accommodation

Questions (209, 210)

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

209. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 8 will be considered for accommodation in Redwood, County Meath. [17186/14]

View answer

Aengus Ó Snodaigh

Question:

210. Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Health the facilities that are available for young sufferers of dementia in Dublin and the surrounding area. [17187/14]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 210 together.

According to the details supplied, the individual referred to by the Deputy has been approved for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme. This Scheme provides financial support to individuals who require long-term nursing home care and covers public, private and voluntary nursing homes. Redwood Extended Care Facility in Co. Meath is not registered as a nursing home and, therefore, is not covered by the Nursing Homes Support Scheme.

The HSE is working with St. James' Hospital with a view to sourcing a suitable facility which will meet the care needs of the lady concerned.

Community Care Provision

Questions (211)

Robert Troy

Question:

211. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health his plans to upgrade the health centre in Ballymore, County Westmeath as it is in urgent need of modernisation. [17192/14]

View answer

Written answers

The development of primary care is central to the Government's objective to deliver a high quality, integrated and cost effective health care system.

As with all capital projects the primary care infrastructure programme including this location must be considered within the overall capital envelope available to the health service. There will always be more projects than can be funded by the Exchequer. There is limited funding available for new projects over the period 2014-2018 given the level of commitments and the costs to completion already in place.

Health Services Provision

Questions (212)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

212. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the scale and quality of services being provided for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17227/14]

View answer

Written answers

As 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.

Top
Share