Written Answers Nos. 435-448
435. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30267/14]
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.
436. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Health if a person who is a British citizen over 65 years of age and living here is entitled to a medical card; the way to apply for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30269/14]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Health Act 1970 (as amended), eligibility for public health services in Ireland is based primarily on residency and means. Under EU legislation, persons insured in any EU Member state, together with persons insured in any EEA Member state (Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein) or in Switzerland, are entitled to healthcare. In order to obtain a Medical Card under EU legislation, the applicant must produce the appropriate E or S-form, completed by their Member State confirming the healthcare entitlement for which that state is liable. The position regarding the UK is that, under a reciprocal agreement, the EU S form is not required, however, proof of receipt of a qualifying payment from the UK authorities should be provided with the application to the HSE.
The HSE has responsibility to establish if an applicant is subject to Irish social security legislation. A person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation if s/he is in receipt of a contributory Irish social welfare payment or engaged in work in Ireland and subject to PRSI. If a person is considered subject to Irish social security legislation, the person will not qualify for a Medical Card under EU legislation, but may qualify for a means-tested Medical Card under national legislation.
437. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the progress to date in determination of an application for a medical card in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30270/14]
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.
438. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 196 of 3 July 2014, in which he stated that the Health Service Executive had been asked to examine the specific queries raised; if he would review the issues and reply accordingly. [30302/14]
View answerThe specific issues raised by the Deputy are operational matters and, therefore, were referred to the HSE for direct reply.
The HSE operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. By way of assistance, I can remind the Deputy that 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.
439. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 211 of 3 July 2014, in view of the fact that the waiting list data in the Health Service Executive management data reports is sourced from the National Treatment Purchase Fund figures, there should be no difficulty in ensuring simultaneous publication of both reports; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30303/14]
View answerThe NTPF, in conjunction with the HSE, will put a procedure in place to ensure simultaneous publication of both reports from hereon in.
440. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health when he expects to publish the review of the fair deal scheme; and his views on the reasons for the delay in doing so. [30334/14]
View answerThe Nursing Homes Support Scheme is a system of financial support for people who require long-term nursing home care. It commenced on the 27th October 2009, replacing the various systems of support that existed at the time, i.e. subvention for people in private nursing homes, long-stay charges for people in receipt of long-term residential care in public nursing homes and contract beds.
When the Nursing Homes Support Scheme commenced, a commitment was made that it would be reviewed after three years. The reason for allowing this period to elapse was to ensure that the Scheme had bedded in and that established trends would be available in order to inform the work of the Review. The Review is being carried out by my Department in collaboration with the HSE, with analysis and recommendations provided by an external service provider on specific issues which required specialised expertise.
A call for written submissions to inform the review was made on the 16th June 2012. In total 61 submissions were received from a broad range of individuals, nursing homes, statutory bodies, groups representing the interest of older people, private/commercial bodies and organisations in the community and voluntary sector.
The Terms of Reference for the Review are:
Taking account of Government policy, demographic trends and the fiscal situation:-
1. To examine the on-going sustainability of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme,
2. To examine the overall cost of long-term residential care in public and private nursing homes and the effectiveness of the current methods of negotiating/setting prices,
3. Having regard to 1. and 2. above, to consider the balance of funding between long-term residential care and community based services,
4. To consider the extension of the scheme to community based services and to other sectors (Disability and Mental Health),
5. To make recommendations for the future operation and management of the scheme.
The elements of the Review that relate to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme itself are well-defined, but an effective assessment of the Scheme for the future requires consideration of where it fits within the spectrum of services and supports for older people, and of how the make-up of and balances within this spectrum may change over time. This exercise is broader than was first envisaged and the various issues arising are now being systematically considered with a view to completion and publication as early as possible.
441. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health his views on the need for clear protocols to cover patients being discharged from acute hospitals in order that responsibility for the transfer of their care in the community is specified; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30335/14]
View answerIn relation to acute care, the HSE National Integrated Care Guidance (2014) has been developed by the National Integrated Care Advisory Group under the auspices of the Quality and Patient Safety Division. The guidance is based on feedback received following extensive national and targeted consultation with service providers in both the acute and community healthcare settings, and on review of the HSE Integrated Discharge Planning Code of Practice (2008). This practical guide to integrated care is designed to support healthcare providers to improve their discharge and transfer processes from the acute hospital setting back into the community. This guide will support service providers in demonstrating how they are meeting the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, and outlines nine key steps in effective discharge and transfer of care which will facilitate faster, safer discharges for patients. As the arrangements for patients being discharged from acute hospitals are service matters, I have also asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
442. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health in view of the high number of residents inappropriately placed in nursing homes, partially due to a statutory entitlement to this care, if he intends to introduce a legal entitlement to care in the home-community, which in may cases is the person's preference, is in their best interest and is cost effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30336/14]
View answerI agree that while there will always be a need for long-term residential care, older people should be supported to stay in their own homes and communities for as long as possible, and this is what they clearly want themselves. It is my policy, and that of the HSE, that only those in genuine need of residential care should go down that route. As a first step, in 2014 €23m has been redirected from long term residential care to strengthen community and home-based services and to develop more flexible and responsive approaches to care. This is in addition to the budget of €315m already provided for home help and home care package services which are delivered to some 56,000 people at any one time.
The currently ongoing Review of the Nursing Home Support Scheme will consider a range of issues, including the way that residential and community care are currently balanced, and whether we need to consider the application of a system of support for community care similar to that now in place for residential care. This Review will be published in the coming months.
443. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the urgent waiting list for a hip replacement at Cappagh Hospital is nine-12 months at present; the action which he will take to ensure that Government commitments on maximum waiting times will be met; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30337/14]
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.
Should a patient's general practitioner consider that the patient's condition warrants an earlier appointment, he or she would be in the best position to take the matter up with the consultant and hospital involved. In relation to the queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.
444. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of service users and their families about the threatened closure of a mental health service (details supplied) in Dublin 11; if he will outline the details of the impact assessment which has been carried out in respect of present and future clients; if the Mental Health Commission will be consulted on this proposal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30338/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter this question has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
445. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Health if he will instruct the Health Service Executive to prioritise the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow currently awaiting a procedure in Cappagh Orthopaedic Hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30385/14]
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.
446. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 682 of 17 June 2014 and the response of the Health Service Executive to the agreements which were reached at a meeting held on 30 June 2014, his views that the HSE acted illegally in changing locks and refusing access to the premises without any prior notice, either officially or unofficially, to the voluntary group which had used, extended and maintained the premises at their own expense, with the agreement of the Health Board and subsequently the HSE for a period of at least 16 years; his views that the unilateral action in this instance does not represent normal behaviour by the HSE; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30391/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
447. 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; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30392/14]
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.
448. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30393/14]
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.
