Written Answers Nos. 344-361
344. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will reverse the decision to have only a half-time endocrinologist dedicated solely to the early intervention in paediatrics based at Limerick Regional Hospital in view of the improvements in diabetic care since appointment of a full-time locum; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35224/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
345. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the income level of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is deemed to have exceeded the qualification guidelines of a medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35231/14]
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.
346. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the extent to which the income of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is deemed to have exceeded the guidelines thereby depriving them of a medical card and a general practitioner visit card, the latter seemingly being only 50c in excess of the guidelines; if the matter will be reviewed as matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35236/14]
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.
347. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare was assessed on over 70s criteria governing medical card applications, if so, if they would have qualified on the under 70s criteria; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35237/14]
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.
348. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Health if an early date for an operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be confirmed; and if he will expedite a positive response. [35253/14]
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 the Deputy on this matter.
349. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [35262/14]
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.
350. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a discretionary medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [35263/14]
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.
351. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding nurses' pay (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35270/14]
View answerThe wage that you mention is the rate applicable to undergraduates who are undertaking their rostered clinical placement as part of their degree programme. When doing so, they are not qualified nurses and require supervision. Student undergraduate nurses participating in the 4th year rostered clinical placement are paid in accordance with the rates specified in the minimum wage legislation, €6.49 for the first 12 weeks, €6.92 for the second 12 weeks and €7.79 for the third 12 weeks, with mental health student nurses 2.3% higher. The staff nurse scale commences at €27,211(excluding any allowances and premium payments). Higher rates of pay apply to mental health staff nurses.
Nurses' pay is covered by the Haddington Road Agreement.
352. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has been refused a discretionary medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35272/14]
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.
353. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a nursing home support payment scheme in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35281/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
354. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if the new Secretary General of his Department was appointed following a competition for the appointment; if the Top Level Appointments Committee was involved; if the position was advertised; if not, the basis on which the appointment was made and the reason there was no open competition for the position; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35282/14]
View answerThe Secretary General of a Department is appointed by Government. It is open to Government to offer such an appointment to an existing Secretary General of another Government Department which is what happened in this case where Mr. Jim Breslin, the then Secretary General of the Department of Children and Youth Affairs was offered and accepted the appointment as Secretary General of the Department of Health. Mr Breslin was appointed to his previous position as Secretary General following a competition run by the Top Level Appointments Committee.
355. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Health if he will arrange for an urgent surgical procedure in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35284/14]
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 the Deputy on this matter.
356. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if an epilepsy alarm will be provided to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35289/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
357. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of senior house officer positions in each public or voluntary hospital on 1 September 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35317/14]
View answerI have no direct role compiling this data and have directed your enquiry to the HSE for reply.
358. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health if he will provide in tabular form the number of registrar positions in each public or voluntary hospital on 1 September 2014; the number of such positions vacant on the same date; the number of these positions being filled by locums on the same date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35318/14]
View answerI have no direct role in compiling this data and have directed your enquiry to the HSE for reply.
359. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health the total number of medical cards as of 1 September 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 1 September 2014. [35319/14]
View answerThe medical card figures at 1 September 2014, as requested by the Deputy, are set out in the table below:
|
Card Type |
Number of cards |
|
Medical cards |
1,797,811 |
|
Of which granted on the basis of discretion |
67,572 |
|
GP visit cards |
146.546 |
|
Of which granted on the basis of discretion |
29,208 |
360. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health if orthodontic treatment will be expedited in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35342/14]
View answerThe HSE provides orthodontic treatment to patients based on their level of clinical need. An individual's access to orthodontic treatment is determined against a set of clinical guidelines and priority is given to patients with greatest needs. The HSE has been asked to examine the specific query raised by the Deputy and to reply to him as soon as possible.
361. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health if and when a medical card will issue in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has submitted all documentation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35345/14]
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.
