Written Answers Nos. 723-747
723. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if the consultation cost is covered under the medical card scheme when a person who has a general practitioner visit card is referred by the GP to a hospital consultant; if it is intended to cover the cost of the drug daxas under the drug payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25966/14]
View answerThe Irish Public Health System provides for two categories of eligibility for persons ordinarily resident in the country, i.e. full eligibility (medical cardholders) and limited eligibility (all others).
Persons with limited eligibility (including GP visit card holders) are eligible for in-patient and outpatient public hospital services including consultant services, subject to certain charges. The public hospital statutory in-patient charge is €75 in respect of each day during which a person is maintained, up to a maximum payment of €750 in any twelve consecutive months. There is also a charge of €100 for attendance at Accident & Emergency departments unless, inter alia, the person has a referral letter from their General Practitioner.
Patients can also opt to go privately to their Consultant and public hospital and are therefore liable for the fees of all consultants involved in their care and the private patient charges in public hospitals. The HSE is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes, including the drug payment scheme, therefore, the HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy concerning the drug Daxas and reply direct to him as soon as possible.
724. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the chairperson of the West-North West Hospital Group advised him, his Department, the Health Service Executive or any other relevant authority under the aegis of his Department of his interest in the company commissioned by the West-North West Hospital Group to undertake a review of maternity services in the region; if so, the date on which such information was received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25979/14]
View answer725. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the chair of the West-North West Hospital Group advised the chief executive of the West-North West Hospital Group of his interest in the company commissioned by the group to undertake a review of maternity services in the region; if this information was advised prior to the commissioning of the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25980/14]
View answer726. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in terms of the commissioning of the review of maternity services on behalf of West-North West Hospitals Group, the date on which the director general of the Health Service Executive requested the HSE's internal audit unit to undertake a review of the procurement practices relating to the group's commissioning of the review of maternity services; the findings of the HSE's internal audit unit; the date these were made available to the director general of the HSE; the action taken by the director general on foot of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25986/14]
View answer727. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the commissioning of the review of maternity services on behalf of the West-North West Hospitals Group, the date on which the director general of the Health Service Executive informed him of his request to the HSE's internal audit unit to examine the procurement procedures pertaining to the commissioning of the review; the date on which the director general informed him of the findings of the audit unit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25985/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 724 to 727, inclusive, together.
My Department and the HSE first became aware that an issue had arisen in relation to the commissioning of the review of maternity services on behalf of the West/North West Hospital Group from a media query on 19 May 2014. The Director General of the HSE informed my Department that day that he had requested a team from the HSE’s Internal Audit Unit to conduct a report on the matter.
In the course of its investigations HSE Internal Audit was assured by the CEO that he had made the decision to source D&F Health Partnership based on their suitability for the project, and that the Chair had no role in this. This was consistent with the documentation examined by the Internal Audit Team. The investigation found that while Mr. Daly had disclosed to the Board that he was a former employee and former Director of D&F Health Partnership, he failed to disclose that he continued to hold a 50% shareholding in the company. The investigation also established that the procurement of services was not in accordance with HSE National Financial Regulations.
On 22 May 2014 the findings of the audit were presented to the Director General of the HSE, who informed my Department and wrote to both Mr. Daly and the CEO to make clear that any further breaches of procurement rules would be unacceptable and that Mr. Daly should have made it clear to board members that he retained a 50% shareholding in the company concerned. The letter to the Chair of the Board also requested that the Chair take immediate steps to ensure that a register of members’ interests is established and maintained at the hospital group so that potential conflicts of interest are avoided.
My Department and the HSE are focused on implementing the Government’s reform programme for acute hospitals to deliver better outcomes for patients. The progress made to date by the West North West Hospital Group demonstrates that the establishment of acute hospitals into a small number of groups, each with its own governance and management, will provide an optimum configuration for hospital services to deliver high quality, safe patient care in a cost effective manner.
728. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will directly intervene in a unacceptable delay on a medical card appeal in respect of a person ( details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25996/14]
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.
729. Deputy Derek Keating asked the Minister for Health when surgery will take place in respect of a child (details supplied) in County Galway. [25998/14]
View answerI understand that the Orthopaedic Team at the hospital has been in touch with the patient's family regarding a possible date for surgery. The HSE has also advised me that an administrative validation exercise was conducted in April to confirm patient details, and to confirm that the patient wished to remain on the waiting list and had received treatment elsewhere.
730. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Health his plans to expedite orthodontic waiting times in County Tipperary; if his attention has been drawn to a case (details supplied) where a family is waiting years to be treated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25999/14]
View answerAn independent national review of orthodontic services, commissioned by the HSE, has recently been completed. The key issue highlighted by the review is that the Orthodontic Service should be fully integrated within the Primary Care Service. This is under consideration by the HSE to be implemented as part of the HSE's reform programme. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific queries raised by the Deputy concerning services in Co Tipperary and to reply to him as soon as possible.
731. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding extra home help hours in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26010/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
732. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of registered cases of persons with a disease (details supplied) per hospital across the State at present. [26011/14]
View answerI regret to inform the Deputy that data on the prevalence of Addison's Disease (Adrenal Insufficiency) are not routinely available. In addition, it is not possible to identify the hospitalisation rates as the condition is part of a group of related diagnoses that are collected at group level only.
733. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the reason persons who had mastectomies are now being charged for prosthetics; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26012/14]
View answerAll women who have had breast cancer surgery are entitled to their first prosthesis and two bras free of charge. A set policy is not in place in regard to the longer-term provision of bras to post-mastectomy patients who hold medical cards, and variations can apply across regions. A national group has been established in the HSE to review practices in the area of aids and appliances. As part of this work, the Group will develop a national policy on the provision of prosthesis bras, as well as hairpieces, for cancer patients. It is anticipated that the Group will complete its work in the first half of 2015.
734. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; if he will expedite the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26013/14]
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.
737. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26072/14]
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.
738. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Health if a medical card will issue to a child (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26081/14]
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.
739. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health his views on the treatment of a person (details supplied), who is a patient diagnosed with a neurological condition, in Kerry General Hospital and currently being treated in the psychiatric unit there. [26082/14]
View answer740. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Health his views on plans to treat a person (details supplied) in a medical ward at Kerry General Hospital or a specialist centre such as Beaumont Hospital [26083/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 739 and 740 together.
As these are service matters these questions have been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
741. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the renewal of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26086/14]
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.
742. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a date for a medical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26095/14]
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.
743. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Health if he will take steps to publish immediately the findings of the regulatory impact assessment on plain packaging of tobacco products and in particular if cognisance was taken of the likely increase in the illicit trading of tobacco products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26104/14]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Public Health (Standardised Packaging of Tobacco) Bill 2014 was published last Friday, 13th June. It is my intention that the Regulatory Impact Analysis carried out in connection with the Bill will be published shortly. In relation to the Deputy’s assertion regarding illicit trade, the Revenue Commissioners have advised that the tax stamp is a key means for them to distinguish between legal and illegal products, irrespective of the way in which the cigarettes are packaged. Tax stamps will remain a fixture on tobacco products following the introduction of standardised packaging and therefore the legislation is unlikely to have a significant impact on Revenue’s work in relation to illicit trade in cigarettes.
746. Deputy Joan Collins asked the Minister for Health if he will report on the suspension of obesity surgery at St. Vincent's hospital; the number of public patients who have had this surgery in St. Vincent's hospital and University Hospital Galway in 2014; the number of patients waiting for this surgery now; and the length of time they have been waiting. [26123/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.
747. Deputy Kevin Humphreys asked the Minister for Health if a medical card has been or will be reinstated in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 4. [26161/14]
View answerThe Government has decided to develop a new policy framework of eligibility for health services to take account of medical conditions. The HSE has established an expert panel to examine the range of conditions that should be considered as part of this process and has been asked to make an early report to Government. In this context, the HSE has suspended reviews of medical cards where discretion had been exercised to take account of medical circumstances, pending the outcome of this process. This includes people who are currently in the appeals process. The HSE has extended eligibility of the individuals concerned, who are in the process of being advised in the normal way. The Government is examining how best to address the situation of persons with serious medical conditions who had been issued with a medical card on a discretionary basis, but who have already completed the review process (and appeal process, as relevant) and who are not eligible to retain that card. The Government is examining the most effective and timely way of progressing such change.
