Written Answers Nos 893-910
893. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason a medical card file in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 has not yet been sent from PCRS to the Health Service Executive appeals section, despite the fact that the appeal was lodged on 6 February 2014; when the file will be sent to the appeals section to enable them to process the appeal. [19449/14]
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.
894. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) will receive an appointment for a hip replacement. [19450/14]
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 her directly.
895. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the lack of child assessment services in the Lucan area; the action being taken to address this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19482/14]
View answerThe particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
896. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of organisations currently in receipt of Health Service Executive funding; if such organisations are subject to a service level agreement containing a clause prohibiting the use of funding to change law or Government policies, or prohibiting the use of funding to persuade persons to adopt a view on law or public policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19485/14]
View answerI understand that an identical question (PQ12054/14) was asked by the Deputy on 11th March, 2014 and was referred to the Health Service Executive (HSE) for direct reply. My Department has been in contact with HSE and understands that a reply was furnished to the Deputy on 25th March, 2014.
I insert below a copy of that reply:
This question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply to the Deputy.
897. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry [19487/14]
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.
898. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health the reason discretionary medical cards (details supplied) are still being removed form patients despite his claims that discretionary medical cards are not being removed; his views on whether it is morally wrong to remove medical cards from such patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19488/14]
View answerAs I have put on the record of the House on more than one occasion, medical cards awarded on a discretionary basis are being not being arbitrarily withdrawn or refused. Eligibility for a medical card only exists for so long as a person continues to meet the criteria set out in the Health Act 1970, as amended. Therefore, all medical cards, including those granted on a discretionary basis, are subject to a periodic review of eligibility to determine continuing eligibility.
At application or review stage, the HSE has discretion to grant a medical card where an applicant’s means are above the financial thresholds, as set out in the national guidelines. Granting medical card eligibility on a discretionary basis arises when a person cannot arrange GP services for themselves and their family without undue financial hardship. It is important to note that discretion is not a stand-alone exercise. Exercising discretion has been, and remains, an integral part of the assessment process for a medical card.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specifics of 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.
899. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the waiting time for a public patient (details supplied) in County Kerry to receive an appointment for an eye operation in the South Infirmary-Victoria University Hospital in Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19496/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2013, has been developed to ensure that all administrative, managerial and clinical staff follow an agreed national minimum standard for the management and administration of waiting lists for scheduled care. This policy, which has been adopted by the Health Service Executive, sets out the processes that hospitals are to implement to manage waiting lists.
In relation to the particular query raised by the Deputy, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to him on this matter.
900. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if home-help assistance in respect of some household chores can be provided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19498/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
901. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the number of medical cards currently under review, broken down by county; the reason retired persons who have previously worked in another EU state and who qualified for a non-means tested medical card are being asked to do a means test as part of the review. [19499/14]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is not readily available. However, I have asked the Health Service Executive to supply this information to me and I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as possible.
902. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who was in receipt of a non-means tested medical card based on previous contributions while working in another EU state from which they are in receipt of a pension, and in receipt of no State pension or welfare payment here, is now subject to a means test and medical card review; if this represents a change of policy or practice; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19501/14]
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.
903. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if daily assistance or assistance every second day from a public health nurse can be provided in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19502/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy.
904. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if he will consider including a medication (details supplied) on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19503/14]
View answerThe HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore, the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
905. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) has been waiting two years for an eye test and an assessment for autism; and when this person may expect to receive an appointment for both of these assessments. [19515/14]
View answerAs 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.
906. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review the amount required to be paid by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare in respect of the nursing home support scheme who has a very low income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19539/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
907. 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. [19540/14]
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.
908. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [19545/14]
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.
909. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a hearing aid will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow [19562/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive Community Audiology service administers and monitors hearing tests for adults who are at risk for hearing loss. Appointments for the audiology service are sent in a strict chronology according to clinical priorities and date of receipt of referral. The HSE has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
910. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the number of patients regularly on trolleys in South Tipperary General Hospital; his views on whether these continued and relentlessly high numbers are fair or acceptable; the action he will take to tackle this issue as a matter of priority by immediately sanctioning emergency funding to allow for the opening of 12 step-down beds in Cashel hospital to alleviate the trolley situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19570/14]
View answerIn relation to the issues raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
