Tom Fleming
Question:370. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine and review a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36706/14]
View answerMedical Card Reviews
Questions (370)
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.
Special Educational Needs Service Provision
Questions (371)
Tom Fleming
Question:371. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health the progress that has been made regarding the provision of adequate multi-disciplinary therapy services at St. Frances special school, Beaufort, County Kerry; if he will ensure that the Health Service Executive will address all the deficits that the board of management and parents have highlighted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36708/14]
View answerWritten answers
The particular issue raised by the Deputy is a service matter for the Health Service Executive. Accordingly I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (372)
Sandra McLellan
Question:372. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a date for a knee operation in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36709/14]
View answerWritten answers
The 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 her on this matter.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (373)
Pat Breen
Question:373. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36721/14]
View answerWritten 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 (374)
Pat Breen
Question:374. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision will issue on a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36722/14]
View answerWritten 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 Applications
Questions (375)
Pat Breen
Question:375. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Health when a decision on a discretionary medical card will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36724/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Vaccination Programme
Questions (376)
Róisín Shortall
Question:376. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if he will provide the influenza vaccine rates for the years 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 claimed by general practitioners and pharmacists. [36730/14]
View answerWritten answers
As these are service matters, they have been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
Medical Register Administration
Questions (377)
Brendan Griffin
Question:377. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health if a decision has been made on an application for Medical Council approval in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36735/14]
View answerWritten answers
Registration of doctors is a matter for the Medical Council. I have no role in this matter. I have forwarded your request to the Medical Council for direct reply.
Long-Term Illness Scheme Coverage
Questions (378)
Brian Walsh
Question:378. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Health his plans to include ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease on the long-term illness scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36751/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Long Term Illness (LTI) Scheme was established under Section 59(3) of the Health Act, 1970 (as amended). Regulations were made in 1971, 1973 and 1975 specifying the conditions covered by the LTI Scheme, which are as follows: Acute Leukaemia; Mental handicap; Cerebral Palsy; Mental Illness (in a person under 16); Cystic Fibrosis; Multiple Sclerosis; Diabetes Insipidus; Muscular Dystrophies; Diabetes Mellitus; Parkinsonism; Epilepsy; Phenylketonuria; Haemophilia; Spina Bifida; Hydrocephalus; and conditions arising from the use of Thalidomide. There are no plans to extend the list of conditions covered by the LTI Scheme.
Under the Drug Payment Scheme, no individual or family pays more than €144 per calendar month towards the cost of approved prescribed medicines. The scheme significantly reduces the cost burden for families and individuals incurring ongoing expenditure on medicines.
Under the provisions of the Health Acts, medical cards are provided to persons who are, in the opinion of the Health Service Executive (HSE), unable without undue hardship to arrange GP services for themselves and their dependants. In the assessment process, the HSE can take into account medical costs incurred by an individual or a family.
Prescriptions Charges
Questions (379)
Brian Stanley
Question:379. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that when a person's medication dose for some drugs is increased on their prescription, that is Butrans, from 20 mg to 30 mg they are charged €5 twice because the patch only contains 20 mg. [36755/14]
View answerWritten answers
Medical card holders are required to pay a €2.50 charge per item for medicines and other prescription items supplied to them by community pharmacists, subject to a cap of €25 per month for each person or family.
Where a drug or medicine is required to be dispensed in different strengths and different containers, a prescription charge applies to each claimed strength of the product.
This raises policy issues surrounding the implementation of prescription charges which I am currently considering.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (380)
Bernard Durkan
Question:380. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a determination of an application for a medical card in the case of persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36759/14]
View answerWritten 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 Administration
Questions (381)
Brendan Ryan
Question:381. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the provisions for medical card holders seeking to avail of in vitro fertilisation through the public health services. [36760/14]
View answerWritten answers
Medical Card eligibility entitles medical card holders to receive health and social care services free of charge, as provided for under the General Medical Services Scheme. IVF is not a service that comes under the General Medical Services Scheme.
Drugs used as part of fertility treatment are, however, covered under the Drugs Payments Scheme and High Tech Drug Arrangements. Under the Drugs Payments Scheme, any drug costing over €144 per calendar month, incurred as part of a person's fertility treatment, is covered by the HSE.
Health Services
Questions (382, 383)
Brendan Ryan
Question:382. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the entitlements and supports available from the Health Service Executive for persons seeking to avail of in vitro fertilisation. [36761/14]
View answerBrendan Ryan
Question:383. Deputy Brendan Ryan asked the Minister for Health the way the provision of in vitro fertilisation through the Health Service Executive compares with the provision under the national health service in the United Kingdom. [36762/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 382 and 383 together.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment is not provided by the Irish public health system. Patients who access IVF treatment privately may claim tax relief on the costs involved under the tax relief for medical expenses scheme. In addition, a defined list of fertility medicines needed for fertility treatment is covered under the High Tech Scheme administered by the Health Service Executive (HSE). Medicines covered by the High Tech Scheme must be prescribed by a consultant/specialist and approved by the HSE ‘High Tech Liaison Officers’. The cost of the medicines is then covered, as appropriate, under the Medical Card or Drugs Payment Scheme.
In the UK fertility treatment can be accessed privately where the full cost is borne by the couple/person or through the NHS in which case funding is available subject to certain criteria being met. NHS funding can cover the costs of in vitro fertilisation (IVF) or intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection. The number of cycles available varies from region to region across the UK. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) published a guideline on fertility treatment in 2004, which was updated in February 2013. The guideline covers what levels of funding should be available throughout England and Wales. Decision making on the amount of funding is made at a local level by Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs). Some CCGs in England fund one cycle, some two, and others three cycles. There are a few CCGs who do not fund IVF or ICSI at all. The Expert Advisory Group on Infertility in Scotland (EAGISS) published a guideline on the care of infertile couples in February 2000. Those who meet the eligibility criteria can receive a maximum of three cycles of treatment. In Northern Ireland, qualifying couples have access to one cycle of publicly funded treatment.
The Deputy may be interested to know that my Department has undertaken a significant amount of work in relation to the area of assisted human reproduction (AHR), which has included a comprehensive analysis of best practice in other jurisdictions. On the basis of this work, a detailed set of evidenced-based policy proposals has been prepared. These proposals deal with the regulation of AHR practices, and eligibility and access to AHR services. It is my intention to bring a memorandum for Government seeking approval to draft a General Scheme for AHR in the near future.
Medical Card Reviews
Questions (384)
Arthur Spring
Question:384. Deputy Arthur Spring asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the review of a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; when a decision will be made considering the time the review has taken to date. [36764/14]
View answerWritten 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.
Health Services Funding
Questions (385)
Billy Kelleher
Question:385. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Health in respect of the State funding given to the Alzheimer's Society of Ireland on an annual basis if he has sought an explanation as to the reason the Labour Court's recommendation LCR 20827 on the enhanced redundancy package for four employees has not been implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36770/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Health Strategies
Questions (386)
Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin
Question:386. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the roll-out of the national hepatitis C strategy; if the funding-neutral elements will be implemented; if funding to fully implement the strategy will be ring-fenced; if the moratorium on recruitment of public sector staff to expand the numbers of specialist nurses will be lifted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36772/14]
View answerWritten answers
The National Hepatitis C Strategy 2011-2014, which was developed by the Health Service Executive, was published on 4 September 2012. The Strategy provides a framework for a coordinated and integrated response to Hepatitis C in Ireland. The National Hepatitis C Strategy Implementation Committee was established by the Health Service Executive to progress the recommendations of the Strategy. Funding for the implementation of the Strategy in 2015 will be determined in the context of the Estimates process.
The Government has decided that the numbers employed across the public service must be reduced in order to meet fiscal and budgetary targets and introduced a moratorium on recruitment in the Public Service in March 2009. The health sector must make its contribution to that reduction.
In order to mitigate the impact on frontline services of the reduction in employment numbers, the priority is to reform how health services are delivered in order to ensure a more productive and cost effective health system. The revised working arrangements provided for in the Haddington Road Agreement are a pivotal element in this regard. It should be noted that, subject to approval by senior managers, arrangements are in place in the HSE to allow the recruitment of staff where it has been established that there is an urgent service requirement.
I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond directly to the Deputy in relation to progress achieved to date in the implementation of the recommendations of the Hepatitis C Strategy.
Question No. 387 answered with Question No. 367.