Written Answers Nos. 541-560
541. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health in view of the recent Government announcement on the suspension of reviews of medical cards where discretion had been exercised if he will take account of medical circumstances; if his Department will reinstate a full medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28302/14]
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. The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. 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.
542. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health with regard to the restoration of 12,406 discretionary medical cards and the 2,899 discretionary general practitioner visit cards announced on 17 June 2014, the number of such former cardholders that the Health Service Executive had written to or otherwise contacted by 24 June 2014. [28307/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.
543. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made on an application for a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28308/14]
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.
544. 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 application; the reason for the delay for making a decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28311/14]
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.
545. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health If he will expedite an appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28314/14]
View answerThe National Waiting List Management Policy, A standardised approach to managing scheduled care treatment for in-patient, day case and planned procedures, January 2014, 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.
546. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Health the measures he has taken, with the Health Service Executive, to establish a long term unit for Cystic Fibrosis suffers in Beaumont Hospital in view of the fact that there is no such facilities on the northside of Dublin for those suffering from the long term illness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28318/14]
View answerBeaumont Hospital is one of 6 specialist centres which provides services to adults with cystic fibrosis. In the 2008 Budget, a special allocation of €2.5m capital funding was provided to enable the hospital to provide facilities for ambulatory care of people with cystic fibrosis.
This enabled the provision of the new dedicated Outpatient facility for patients with CF which facilitates a comprehensive range of services from the multidisciplinary teams; these include outpatient clinics, a drop in centre / base for clinical assessments with medical consultants and nurses, and the provision of treatments that would otherwise have required hospitalisation; for example, infusions and antibiotic therapies, assessment of pulmonary function, physiotherapy, dietetics and psychology.
The consultation and treatment rooms have air filtration rooms which facilitate 12 air changes per hour, approximately three times the average rate in a normal room. This benefit reduces the time needed between patients for the purposes of infection control. This facility opened on October 26, 2010.
St Paul's Ward is the specialist respiratory ward in the hospital, on which the single rooms are for elective admission of patients with CF for prophylactic antibiotic therapy (or other treatment as required). With priority access to a number of en-suite inpatient rooms, adults with CF are rarely admitted as in-patients via the Emergency Department.
In discussion with the National Clinical Care Programme and the clinical team on-site, it has been identified that due to the increase in numbers within the service there is a requirement for an increase in in-patient single-room accommodation for our CF patients. Arrangements are being finalised to provide this within the hospital’s existing infrastructure.
With regard to longer-term plans, the hospital is engaging with the HSE in relation to the overall infrastructure related requirements to best meet growing service demands. The requirements for CF patients will form an integral part of these discussions.
547. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if he will put in place regulations to impose maximum price for emergency contraception; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28325/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for decisions on pricing and reimbursement of medicinal products under the community drug schemes in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013.
A prescription only emergency contraception product, Levonelle®, is currently included on the List of Reimbursable Items for the GMS and other community drug schemes. This product is therefore available to medical card holders under the GMS Scheme, subject to the prescription charge, once they have a prescription from their GP. Otherwise it is available under the Drug Payment Scheme whereby no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines.
Since February 2011, another emergency contraception product, NorLevo® , has been available at pharmacies in Ireland without a prescription. The supply process for this product is essentially a private transaction between the patient and the pharmacy.
In the case of drugs and medicines which are paid for by the HSE, prices are set in accordance with the provisions of the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013 or the terms of the framework agreements between the Department of Health and the HSE and the representative bodies for pharmaceutical manufacturers in Ireland. However, neither the Minister for Health nor the HSE has any power to set the prices of drugs and medicines purchased by private patients.
The HSE advises the public that if they are being charged prices which exceed the reimbursement price listed on the HSE website (http://www.pcrs.ie/), plus a dispensing fee of between €3.50 and €5, then they should discuss the differential with their pharmacist to ensure they get the best possible price for the medicine concerned.
548. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health his plans for mental health service improvement for young persons and third level students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28326/14]
View answerThe Government has prioritised reform of all aspects of our mental health services in line with A Vision for Change, including additional and improved quality care for young people in both residential and community based settings. Total HSE Mental Health funding in 2014 is significant at around €766m. In this context, additional funding of €90 million, and around 1,100 new posts, has been provided over the last three Budgets. The range of new service initiatives is designed to cover positive mental health for all age groups, including access to services for young people and third level students. These services are provided by the HSE, in partnership with other statutory and non-statutory agencies.
As services are provided on a specific and regional or local basis, I have referred the Deputy’s question to the Executive in respect of the detailed information sought.
549. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if he will review eligibility for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who recently had their medical card withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28343/14]
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.
550. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a decision on their medical card application. [28351/14]
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.
551. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive a decision on their medical card. [28352/14]
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.
552. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the position regarding cuts in services in respect of a child (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28375/14]
View answerAs the issue raised by the Deputy relates to an individual case, this is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. I have asked the HSE to look into the particular matter raised and to reply directly to the Deputy.
553. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Health the rationale behind the decision for Social Anxiety Ireland no longer being funded by the Mater Hospital Group. [28383/14]
View answerAs this is a service issue this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
555. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Health the reason a child (details supplied) in County Wexford with recurring tonsillitis has been on the public waiting list for a tonsillectomy for over four years; his plans to address this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28385/14]
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.
556. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Health if a child (details supplied) in County Mayo will have their medical card reinstated in view of the Government decision to reinstate medical cards that were removed between July 2011 and June, 2014; his views that children with Down syndrome should have an automatic entitlement to a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28387/14]
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. The HSE has commenced issuing letters to the persons concerned and this process should be concluded by the first two weeks of July. 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.
557. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health as per correspondence from the operations manager, Galway-Roscommon PCCC, dated 3 June last, the Health Service Executive has stated its intention to place the Tynagh health centre, Main Street, Tynagh, Loughrea, County Galway, for sale in the coming months; if he will confirm that either the HSE or his Department hold legal title to this property; if he will confirm that the land was originally donated by a local person and was intended to provide for community health services; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28390/14]
View answerManagement of the health care property estate is a service matter. Therefore your question has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
558. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if there is a restriction on citizens from Northern Ireland being able to donate blood; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28391/14]
View answer559. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if this restriction on citizens from Northern Ireland being able to donate blood is based in law or in policy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28392/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 558 and 559 together.
The IBTS has implemented a permanent deferral policy in regard to blood donation for people who resided for 12 months or more in Northern Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man between 1980 and 1996. This policy was introduced in 2004 following the first confirmed case of vCJD transmission via blood transfusion in the UK. It is implemented as a precaution against the risk of transmission of vCJD through blood transfusion. There is no test for vCJD and confirmation that someone had the disease is only possible post mortem. The incidence of vCJD, and of BSE, in Northern Ireland, while lower than in parts of the UK, was higher than that in the Republic of Ireland.
Blood, and the products derived from it, are an integral facet of healthcare delivery. The remit of the Irish Blood Transfusion Service is to provide a safe, reliable and robust blood service to the Irish health system. The IBTS keeps its eligibility criteria for blood donation under on-going review, working closely with blood services internationally.
560. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of employees within the Health Service Executive that are currently employed at the journeyman chef grade; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28395/14]
View answerAs this is an operational matter I have referred the question to the HSE for direct reply.
