Sandra McLellan
Question:201. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for medical card applications to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20640/14]
View answerMedical Card Delays
Questions (201)
Written answers
I am advised by the HSE that, at week ending 5 May 2014, 94.42% of complete medical card applications were processed within 15 days of the application having been received by the HSE. All applications or reviews concerning medical and GP visit cards must be supported with a range of documentation, as outlined on the application forms. Where such supporting documentation is not supplied, or is incomplete, to enable the assessment of an application, in accordance with the National Assessment Guidelines, the HSE will issue correspondence to the applicant, specifying the additional information required to progress the assessment of their application. Clearly, the processing time for incomplete applications is dependent on the furnishing of the require supporting documentation by the applicant. Each week the HSE publishes the turnaround time for medical card processing and this data is available on the Primary Care Reimbursement Services website: https://www.sspcrs.ie/portal/medapp/turnaround.jsp.
Medical Card Appeals
Questions (202)
Sandra McLellan
Question:202. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for medical card reviews when a person has been refused; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20641/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Medical Card Delays
Questions (203)
Sandra McLellan
Question:203. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health the current waiting times for medical card appeals to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20642/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (204)
Colm Keaveney
Question:204. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20645/14]
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.
Health Services Staff
Questions (205)
Sandra McLellan
Question:205. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 541 of 1 April 2014, the reason a response has not issued from Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20648/14]
View answerWritten answers
I understand that a reply to question No. 541 of 1 April 2014 has been issued to the Deputy by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Medical Aids and Appliances Applications
Questions (206)
Dan Neville
Question:206. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an electric wheelchair in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20654/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Mental Health Services Provision
Questions (207)
Colm Keaveney
Question:207. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health further to the closure of St. Ita's Hospital, Portrane, in September 2011, the amount that has been spent by Health Service Executive north Dublin on private beds for public patients in the mental health service since that date; the amount that was spent on same in each year from 2009 to 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20669/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Orthodontic Service Provision
Questions (208)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:208. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of patients waiting on orthodontic treatment for zero to one month, one to three months, three to six months, six to 12 months, 12 to 24 months, and 24 to 36 months, together with the number of patients on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment at the end of 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20677/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. It should be noted that the nature of orthodontic care means that immediate treatment is not always desirable. It is estimated that in up to 5% of cases it is necessary to wait for further growth to take place before treatment commences. Patients are assessed by the HSE Orthodontic Service under the modified Index of Treatment Need. Patients with the greatest level of need, i.e. Grade 5 or Grade 4 are provided with treatment by the HSE. Information on waiting times is collated by the HSE by region and for the intervals as shown below only. The most recent information relates to the first quarter of 2014.
|
Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment |
1 - 6 months |
7 - 12 months |
13 - 24 months |
2 - 3 years |
Over 4 years |
TOTAL |
|
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster |
897 |
838 |
913 |
1,244 |
52 |
3,944 |
|
HSE West |
1,312 |
1,170 |
1,647 |
741 |
51 |
4,921 |
|
HSE South |
567 |
410 |
835 |
1,501 |
24 |
3,337 |
|
HSE Dublin North East |
305 |
571 |
930 |
1,169 |
520 |
3,495 |
|
TOTAL |
3,081 |
2,989 |
4,325 |
4,655 |
647 |
15,697 |
Corresponding figures for the last quarter of 2013 are as follows:
|
Waiting time from assessment to commencement of treatment |
1 - 6 months |
7 - 12 months |
13 - 24 months |
2 - 3 years |
Over 4 years |
TOTAL |
|
HSE Dublin Mid-Leinster |
823 |
723 |
1,056 |
973 |
178 |
3,753 |
|
HSE West |
1,337 |
936 |
1,658 |
924 |
122 |
4,977 |
|
HSE South |
620 |
516 |
829 |
1,056 |
373 |
3,394 |
|
HSE Dublin North East |
440 |
783 |
855 |
842 |
496 |
3,416 |
|
TOTAL |
3,220 |
2,958 |
4,398 |
3,795 |
1,169 |
15,540 |
Regarding 2012 and 2011, figures had been provided in a different format. Some figures are unavailable due to staff shortages in some areas. This issue has since been addressed by the HSE. Information available for 2012 and 2011 is as follows:
Orthodontic Treatment Waiting List 2012
|
Area |
Grade 5 (formerly Category A) |
Waiting Time (Months) |
Grade 4 (formerly Category B) |
Waiting Time (Months) |
|
South Western |
505 |
n/a |
693 |
n/a |
|
Mid-Leinster |
441 |
n/a |
456 |
36 |
|
Midland |
175 |
16 |
980 |
n/a |
|
Northern/North Eastern |
1,375 |
5 |
1,519 |
|
|
South Eastern |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Southern |
381 |
n/a |
1,496 |
18 |
|
Western |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Mid Western* |
1,252 |
24 |
||
|
North Western |
332 |
12 |
219 |
21 |
* combined waiting list
Orthodontic Treatment Waiting List 2011
|
Area |
Grade 5 (formerly Category A) |
Waiting Time (Months) |
Grade 4 (formerly Category B) |
Waiting Time (Months) |
|
South Western |
504 |
14 |
537 |
26 |
|
Mid-Leinster |
446 |
24 |
419 |
36 |
|
Midland |
172 |
16 |
819 |
36 |
|
Northern/North Eastern |
857 |
5 |
2,175 |
|
|
South Eastern |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Southern |
373 |
n/a |
1,575 |
18 |
|
Western |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
n/a |
|
Mid Western* |
1,148 |
24 |
||
|
North Western |
256 |
12 |
212 |
20 |
* combined waiting list
Orthodontic Service Waiting Lists
Questions (209, 214)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:209. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of patients waiting on orthodontic treatment at Letterkenny General Hospital for zero to one month, one to three months, three to six months, six to 12 months, 12 to 24 months, and 24 to 36 months, together with the number of patients on the waiting list for orthodontic treatment at the end of 2011, 2012 and 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20678/14]
View answerCharlie McConalogue
Question:214. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting to be assessed by the orthodontic department in Letterkenny General Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20709/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 209 and 214 together.
The HSE provides orthodontic treatment to those who have been assessed and referred for treatment before their 16th birthday. Orthodontic referrals are generally received via the Public Dental Service school screening programme. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy regarding waiting times for orthodontic treatment and assessment at Letterkenny General Hospital.
Orthodontic Service Provision
Questions (210)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:210. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if there are currently any orthodontic consultants on leave at Letterkenny General Hospital; if there are, the reason for the leave; the date on which they are due to return to work; if they are going to be replaced on a temporary basis while they are on leave; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20679/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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.