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Thursday, 26 Jun 2014

Written Answers Nos. 195-203

Patient Files

Questions (195)

Clare Daly

Question:

195. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the action that was taken to investigate the disappearance of 30 patient files while in transit between Mayo General Hospital and St. Michael's day hospital, Castlebar, in 2012; if he will clarify the correct procedure for transporting confidential patient files between institutions under the remit of the Health Service Executive. [27612/14]

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Written answers

As this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.

An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann

Questions (196)

Michael Moynihan

Question:

196. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Health if the Nurses Act 1985 gave An Bord Altranais the authority to change the quorum requirements for a fitness to practise hearing without prior approval from him. [27615/14]

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Written answers

Section 13(8) of the Nurses Act 1985 allows An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann, or An Bord Altranais as it was then known, regulate the procedures of all committees established under Section 13, including the Fitness to Practise Committee and also allows all such committees regulate their own procedures. This would include setting a quorum for each committee.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (197)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

197. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare in view of the decision of 17 June regarding discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27619/14]

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Written answers

In 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.

Medical Aids and Appliances Provision

Questions (198)

Jerry Buttimer

Question:

198. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Minister for Health the reason a special belt which has to be worn with a stoma bag has been taken off the list of items covered by a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27620/14]

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Written answers

The Health Service Executive (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.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (199)

Timmy Dooley

Question:

199. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare in view of the decision of 17 June regarding discretionary medical cards; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27622/14]

View answer

Written answers

In 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.

Medical Card Applications

Questions (200)

Heather Humphreys

Question:

200. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Health when a decision on an over-70 medical card application will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan. [27628/14]

View answer

Written 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.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (201)

John O'Mahony

Question:

201. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their application for an over-70 medical card review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27639/14]

View answer

Written 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.

Hospital Staff

Questions (202)

Colm Keaveney

Question:

202. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health in view of the fact that a recent study (details supplied) into nurse staffing levels and hospital mortality found that an increase in nurses' workloads by one patient increases the likelihood of inpatient hospital mortality by 7%, if he will consider a review of nurse to patient staffing levels within the Health Service Executive and the establishment of clear nurse to patient ratios, relevant to the different areas of care, throughout the health service that reflect the finding of this study; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27641/14]

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Written answers

It has been necessary to reduce the numbers of staff employed in the public health service, including nursing, in order to contain health service costs. However, I recognise that there is a balance to be struck to meet both economic requirements and patient safety requirements. Notwithstanding the need to reduce public service numbers, the HSE has the capacity to recruit where it is necessary to do so in order to ensure patient safety and quality care and to support service delivery.

It is imperative that patient safety continues to be maintained in the context of these reductions and achieving this requires that relevant expertise is applied to the decision making process. It is for this reason that I have approved the establishment of a taskforce to develop a framework that will determine the staffing and skill mix requirements for the nursing workforce in a range of major specialties. The focus will be on the development of staffing and skill mix ranges which take account of a number of influencing factors. The taskforce is being chaired by the Chief Nursing Officer.

It is important also to note the link between nursing qualifications and safety and to recognise that nurse education levels are also linked to patient outcomes. The Lancet study showed that a 10% increase in the proportion of nurses holding a nursing degree is associated with a 7% decrease in the risk of death. Ireland has invested significantly in nurse education since the Commission on Nursing in 1998. Approximately €55 million is spent annually on nurses education and around 1,570 nurses enter the undergraduate programme each year.

Medical Card Reviews

Questions (203)

John O'Mahony

Question:

203. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health in view of his recent announcement, if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will now have their medical card returned; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27646/14]

View answer

Written answers

In 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.

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