Written Answers Nos. 554-575
554. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Health if the post of any person in the Health Service Executive who is successful in competing for the national nursing posts will be back-filled at a time of severe pressure on existing nursing services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26774/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter, I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply, however the Deputy should note that the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and to support service delivery.
556. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Services Executive to immediately reverse the decision to suspend lifesaving gastric bypass operations on dangerously obese patients. [26776/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
557. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will review the care provided to a person (details provided) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26777/14]
View answerThe Patient Advocacy Department at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin has undertaken to provide any assistance to this patient and her family that may be required in these matters, which are service issues, and to liaise in regard to any follow-up. The Patient Advocacy Department can be contacted on (01) 409 6552.
558. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a stair lift in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26779/14]
View answerAs 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.
559. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card that was revoked without notification from an elderly person (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26780/14]
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.
560. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if a nursing home support scheme application will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26783/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
561. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Health if he will outline the Health Service Executive's involvement in investigating cases of elder abuse in private nursing homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26789/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
562. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Health the circumstances involving the removal of the medical card, with the exception of GP visits, from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; if he will ensure the Health Service Executive writes to the person outlining in clear terms the reasons for this removal, in view of their advanced age and limited means; if this case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26803/14]
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.
563. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Galway may be considered for a medical card on medical grounds; the position regarding medical card reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26825/14]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that the 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 Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the particulars 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.
564. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards as of 1 June 2014; the total number of general practitioner cards on the same date; and the total number for each type of card issued on a discretionary basis on that date. [26829/14]
View answerThe following table provides medical and GP Visit card figures at 1 June 2014, as requested by the Deputy.
|
Card Type |
No. of Cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,790,438 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
52,232 |
|
GP Visit cards |
134,130 |
|
of which granted involving discretion |
31,565 |
565. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if a discretionary medical card will be immediately returned to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26834/14]
View answerIn the context of the Government's decision to develop a policy framework for providing eligibility for health services on the basis of medical conditions, the Government recently announced that a medical card or GP visit card is to be issued to a person, with a serious illness, whose discretionary card was refused renewal since the centralisation of medical card assessments. If the medical card or GP visit card to which the Deputy refers was awarded by way of discretion and was refused renewal in the period from 1 July 2011 to 31 May 2014 following the completion of an eligibility review, a card will issue by the HSE.
The HSE has commenced the process of identifying and contacting persons to advise them that their medical cards and GP visit cards will issue. It is estimated that this process will take 3 weeks. No action is required on the part of those affected as the HSE will be in contact. If people do not hear from the HSE by mid July, they should contact the HSE on its Lo-Call contact number: 1890 25 29 19. These individuals will be able to access medical card and GP visit card services in the normal manner when they have been advised by the HSE that their medical card or GP visit card is active.
The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine the specific query raised 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.
566. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a review for a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26860/14]
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.
567. Deputy Gerald Nash asked the Minister for Health the reason for the delay in awarding a medical card to a person (details supplied) in County Louth; the current status of the application; the reason the temporary card was not renewed pending the processing of the application. [26862/14]
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.
568. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their medical card appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26863/14]
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.
569. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health his views on reviews of medical cards for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26866/14]
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.
570. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health his views on reviews of medical cards for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26867/14]
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.
571. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to medical card applications in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26868/14]
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.
572. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the position in relation to medical card applications in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26869/14]
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.
573. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine further information regarding the review of a medical card in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry as their submission demonstrates their entitlement to the full medical card based on the income threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26870/14]
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.
574. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) received information regarding another person's medical card eligibility and application for a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26873/14]
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.
575. Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor asked the Minister for Health when persons (details supplied) will receive answers from PCRS about their medical card reviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26875/14]
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.
