Sean Conlan
Question:139. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan who has been approved for the fair deal scheme is still awaiting payment. [40745/14]
View answerNursing Homes Support Scheme Applications
Questions (139)
Written answers
As this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.
Hospital Charges
Questions (140)
Joanna Tuffy
Question:140. Deputy Joanna Tuffy asked the Minister for Health if he will consider carrying out a review of respite charges (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40746/14]
View answerWritten answers
Charges for long-stay in-patient services, which may include respite in-patient services, were provided for under the Health (Amendment) Act 2005 and came into effect on 15 July 2005 under the Health (Charges for In-Patient Services) Regulations 2005. The Regulations have been amended on a number of occasions since 2005, most recently by the Health (Charges for In-patient Services) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, which came into effect on 23 July 2011.
Long-stay charges for in-patient services only apply to the further provision of in-patient services to persons who have already received at least 30 days of in-patient services during the immediately preceding 12-month period. Accordingly, many respite episodes would not attract any charge.
The Regulations made under the Act provide for two different classes of charges (in respect of the maintenance element of the in-patient services provided):
- Class 1- charges for those receiving in-patient services on premises where 24 hour nursing care is provided are based on income, subject to a current maximum of €175 per week for a person whose income is €208 or any greater amount) and
- Class 2 - charges for those receiving in-patient services on premises where 24 hour nursing care is not provided are based on income, subject to a current maximum of €130 per week for a person whose income is €194 or any greater amount).
The charges are structured to ensure that those paying them retain a minimum income for personal use i.e. at least €33 per week for those paying Class 1 rates and at least €64 per week for those paying Class 2 rates.
Section 53(4) of the Health Act 1970 provides that the HSE may reduce or waive a charge imposed on a person in order to avoid undue financial hardship to that person (including having regard to whether or not the person has dependants). To assist in the fair application of the provisions of the Act and the related Regulations, the HSE has developed national guidelines for the determination and levying of charges for in-patient services, which include the need to have regard to the income of the person, the provisions of the Regulations and the person's individual circumstances and those of his or her dependants. These guidelines ensure that the applicable level of charge is determined taking account of each service user's income and necessary outgoings while receiving care, including reasonable regular financial commitments, thereby avoiding any unfair burden on the service user or his/her dependants.
On provision of full details in relation to the person concerned, the HSE should be in a position to review the individual circumstances and advise as to the appropriate charges, and the waiver or reduction, if any, applicable.
Medical Card Delays
Questions (141)
Sean Conlan
Question:141. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has been waiting since March 2014 for his medical card application to be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40761/14]
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.
Organ Donation
Questions (142)
Seamus Kirk
Question:142. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Health if there is a bilateral arrangement between Ireland and the United Kingdom regarding waiting lists for heart donations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40772/14]
View answerWritten answers
The HSE has a bilateral arrangement in place with the UK National Health Service Blood and Transplant (NHSBT) service. Any organs that are not utilised in Ireland are offered to the UK system through the NHSBT who manage the process of organ donation for all of the UK. Similarly, Ireland is offered organs that are not utilised in the UK.
Medical Card Delays
Questions (143)
Sean Conlan
Question:143. Deputy Seán Conlan asked the Minister for Health the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan has been waiting since March for her medical card application to be processed. [40776/14]
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 (144)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:144. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40797/14]
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.
Nursing Homes Support Scheme Expenditure
Questions (145)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:145. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Health the steps he will take to deal with the crisis regarding the funding being made available for the fair deal scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40798/14]
View answerWritten answers
Funding of €939 million is available to the Nursing Homes Support Scheme in 2014. Allocations for 2015 are not yet finalised. The HSE operates a national placement list for the Nursing Homes Support Scheme to enable it to operate within budget. All approved applicants are put on the placement list in order of their approval date and funding issues to applicants in this chronological order to ensure equity nationally.
I am aware that waiting times on this list are now at around 15 weeks. This is of course a matter of concern for me but limitations on available resources present a real challenge. My Department and the HSE are working to ensure that the resources that are available are deployed in the most effective way possible and deliver the best outcomes for older people. This will require an integrated approach across community, residential and other service areas.