Finian McGrath
Question:325. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37792/14]
View answerHospital Services
Questions (325)
Written answers
In 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.
Hospital Services
Questions (326)
Finian McGrath
Question:326. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a hospital appointment in respect a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13. [37793/14]
View answerWritten answers
The scheduling of appointments for patients is a matter for the hospital to which the patient has been referred. 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 specific case raised by the Deputy, as this is a service matter it has been referred to the HSE for direct reply.
Medical Card Applications
Questions (327)
Gerry Adams
Question:327. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth who has been diagnosed with significant medical conditions and whose medical card was withdrawn in April 2014; if his attention has been further drawn to the fact that this person made a new application and has now been asked to submit additional financial information and furnish information from UK Pensions Office which they believe should already be on file; if he will review this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37796/14]
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 (328)
Gerry Adams
Question:328. Deputy Gerry Adams asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Louth where a medical card was withdrawn in October 2013; if he will examine the possibility of reinstating this medical card; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37812/14]
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.
Hospital Admissions
Questions (329)
Jim Daly
Question:329. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Health the number of alcohol related admissions to public hospitals for each of the past ten years; if he will provide this number as a percentage of total admissions; if he will provide an estimated cost of treating alcohol related illnesses for each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37818/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Report of the National Substance Misuse Steering Group, 2012 reported that alcohol is associated with 2,000 beds being occupied every night in Irish acute hospitals, one quarter of injuries presenting to emergency departments and over half of attendances to specialised addition centres. The report further noted that alcohol-related illness cost the healthcare system €1.2 billion in 2007. The figure is taken from the report, 'Costs to Society of Problem Alcohol Use in Ireland', 2011.
The provision of services to treat alcohol related illness is the responsibility of the Health Service Executive and as such, I have referred this question to the Health Service Executive for their attention and will get back to you as soon as I have received the information requested.
Health Services
Questions (330)
Denis Naughten
Question:330. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Question No. 233 of 8 May 2014, if he will provide an update on the review of assistance for stoma care; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37819/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for the administration of the primary care schemes and, therefore, the HSE has been asked to update the Deputy regarding the review of stoma care products on the List of Reimbursable Items.
Hospital Services
Questions (331)
Róisín Shortall
Question:331. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health if his attention has been drawn to the fact that certain hospitals have introduced a premium rate phone line for the booking of blood tests; if he will review this practice in view of the potential impact on vulnerable patients; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37822/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.
Health Services
Questions (332)
Jack Wall
Question:332. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will receive an appointment with an eye specialist; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37823/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to investigate this case and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Ambulance Service Provision
Questions (333, 334, 335)
Catherine Murphy
Question:333. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the ambulance services that have been increased or restored to previous coverage following an earlier reduction by location; his plans to restore or increase ambulance cover in the County Kildare area following the cut last year; if there is a schedule according to which services will be restored; if he will furnish this schedule; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37824/14]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:334. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health the average ambulance response times for the County Kildare area; the current arrangements for ambulance cover in terms of vehicles and staff; the weekly scheduled cover in respect of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37826/14]
View answerCatherine Murphy
Question:335. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Health if the ambulance service operational from Leixlip, County Kildare, will be restored to a full service; if so, when; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37829/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 to 335, inclusive, together.
In relation to the detailed queries raised by the Deputy, as these are service matters, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to her directly.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (336)
Terence Flanagan
Question:336. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37830/14]
View answerWritten answers
The Health Service Executive is continuing to experience a significant increase in demand for its services which is reflected in an upward trend reported in recent waiting list figures. The success of the outpatient initiative run by the HSE at the end of 2013 which reduced those waiting over 12 months from over 100,000 in March 2013 to fewer than 5,000 in December 2013 and further validation work in 2014 resulted in facilitation of 33,000 additional outpatient appointments in 2013 and an additional 55,883 outpatient appointments thus far in 2014. However this had the consequence of driving up in-patient and day case waiting lists as patients are referred for appropriate treatment. In addition, other pressures such as almost 30,000 new cancer diagnoses each year place increase demands of the order of 3000 – 6000 additional referral requirements on the system each month.
Improvements in chronological scheduling, consistent validation of waiting lists and active engagement with patients to reduce ‘DNA’ or Did Not Attend rates are underway to address outpatient waiting lists; similar measures, as well as optimisation of theatre capacity and day of surgery admission where possible are being employed to improve management of in-patient and day case waiting lists.
In 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.
Dental Services Provision
Questions (337)
Seán Kenny
Question:337. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Health the reason the Health Service Executive general dental anaesthetic service at St. James's Hospital, Dublin 8, is closing down with effect from 1 October 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37831/14]
View answerWritten answers
I have asked the HSE to investigate this matter and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible.
Health Services
Questions (338)
Jack Wall
Question:338. Deputy Jack Wall asked the Minister for Health when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive an appointment for a medical procedure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37841/14]
View answerWritten answers
In 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.
Health Services
Questions (339)
Finian McGrath
Question:339. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Health his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding closure of a day centre in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37852/14]
View answerWritten answers
As 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.
Stillbirths Data
Questions (340)
Brendan Griffin
Question:340. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the number of stillbirths that are recorded here on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37859/14]
View answerWritten answers
The numbers of stillbirths as reported by the National Perinatal Reporting System (NPRS) for 2009 to 2013 are given in the table. As per WHO guidelines on the reporting of stillbirths, only births weighing 500 grams or more are included in data reported by the NPRS.
|
Year |
Number of Stillbirths |
|
2013 |
277 |
|
2012 |
281 |
|
2011 |
297 |
|
2010 |
355 |
|
2009 |
372 |
Maternity Services
Questions (341, 342)
Brendan Griffin
Question:341. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health following the revelations on a television programme (details supplied), if he will consider the introduction of the measures outlined by the medical specialists in the programme to reduce the number of stillbirths. [37860/14]
View answerBrendan Griffin
Question:342. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Health the research and measures that are being implemented by his Department to reduce the number of stillbirths here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37861/14]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 341 and 342 together.
The National Clinical Programme for Obstetrics and Gynaecology was set up by the HSE in 2010 as a joint initiative between HSE Clinical Strategy and Programmes Division and the Institute of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, RCPI. The Programme takes direction and guidance from the Clinical Advisory Group, a group of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists from the Institute. The Programme established a multi-disciplinary national working group, which meets at least four times a year, to harvest the views of, and gain consensus from, the range of healthcare providers associated with maternity services. As the issues raised by the Deputy refer to such services, I have asked, through the HSE, that the Clinical Programme examine the matter and respond directly to him.
The Deputy may also be interested to note that the reports into the 2012 maternal death at UHG and infant deaths at Portlaoise Hospital from 2006 made important recommendations in relation to maternity services in both hospitals and in relation to wider maternity services' provision. Implementation of the recommendations of both reports is underway and is being regularly monitored.
Furthermore, my Department, in conjunction with the HSE, is currently working on the development of a new Maternity Strategy. The Strategy will determine the optimal configuration of maternity services to ensure that women in Ireland have access to safe, high quality maternity care in a setting most appropriate to their needs. Developing the strategy will provide us with the opportunity to take stock of current services and identify how we can improve the quality and safety of care provided to women and their babies. The Strategy will ensure that our services are in accordance with best available national and international evidence.
Hospital Waiting Lists
Questions (343)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:343. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the number of patients waiting an appointment with a consultant neurologist in County Donegal; if he will provide a breakdown of the timeframe these patients have been waiting; if he will ensure that a second neurologist will be appointed; the way he expects any appointment to impact on waiting lists; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/14]
View answerWritten answers
As this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy.