Written Answers Nos. 130 - 135
130. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Health his plans to amend proposed legislation to allow orthoptists to prescribe glasses contingent on satisfying the CORU regulations on scope of practice for that profession by requiring a CORU accredited qualification in refraction and prescribing to meet the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37427/14]
View answerThere are no plans at present to extend the scope of practice of orthoptists to include the prescription of spectacles. An extension of scope of practice would require primary legislation.
Orthoptists are one of the professions designated, in the Health and Social Care Professionals Act 2005, for registration under the Health and Social Care Professionals Council (CORU). It is intended that the Registration Board for this profession will be established under CORU by the end of 2015.
131. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health the way a person (details supplied) in County Kildare may apply or proceed with a necessary item for the care of their child; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37432/14]
View answerAs the Deputy's question relates to service matters, I have arranged for the question to be referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply to the Deputy.
132. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Health the progress in reimbursing persons on the long-term illness scheme who were also medical card holders and paying the prescription charge; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37442/14]
View answerThe Health Service Executive is making final preparation for the refunds to persons holding Long Term Illness (LTI) eligibility who paid prescription charges for medicines dispensed in respect of their LTI condition(s) in the period October 2010 to December 2013. It is expected that refunds will be issued by the end October 2014.
133. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority has put in place a standard to monitor patient safety risks and publish the outcome, morbidity and mortality, for sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients who are brought to hospitals which cannot provide emergency neurosurgical treatment and are then referred but not accepted for treatment in the national referral centre for neurosurgery, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if no such standard has been put in place, the reasons for the non-implementation of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37445/14]
View answer134. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if the Health Information and Quality Authority has ever submitted a proposed standard for approval, under the Health Act 2007, to monitor patient safety risks and to publish the outcome, morbidity or mortality, for sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients who are not accepted for emergency neurosurgical or endovascular treatment in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; and if such patient safety standards are not in place, the way the authority may fulfil its obligation under the Health Act 2007, section 8(1)(b), to set standards on safety and quality, and 8(1)(c) to monitor compliance with the standards referred to in 8(1)(b). [37446/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 133 and 134 together.
My Department has been informed by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) that it supported discussions between the Health Service Executive, Beaumont Hospital and Cork University Hospital which resulted in the publication in 2010 of Guidelines for the Management of a Patient with a Sub-arachnoid Haemorrhage. Governance of implementation, adherence, monitoring and audit associated with the Guideline is the responsibility of the service providers.
Under the Health Act 2007, HIQA monitors compliance with the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare, which were published in June 2012. The National Standards are not illness or condition specific but they have been designed so that they can be implemented in all healthcare services, settings and locations. Theme 2 (Effective Care and Support) of the National Standards for Safer Better Healthcare states that the fundamental principle of effective care and support is that it consistently delivers the best achievable outcomes for people using a service within the context of that service, and the resources available to it. The Standards promote the use of National Clinical Guidelines and nationally agreed protocols, care bundles and care pathways where available.
135. Deputy Pat Rabbitte asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 2012, 100 sub-arachnoid haemorrhage patients were denied emergency neurosurgical treatment in Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9; further to Parliamentary Question No. 823 of 17 July 2012, his views that Beaumont Hospital does not have sufficient funds to enable it to review the outcome for SAH patients in 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 despite the fact that this data is apparently stored on the hospital’s computer system; and if the issue is insufficient resources, his plans to address the issue. [37447/14]
View answerIn relation to the detailed query raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to him directly.
