Written Answers Nos. 651-666
651. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Health the number of meetings he or officials from his Department had with a person (details supplied); the purpose of each of those meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41330/14]
View answerNeither I, nor officials from the Department, have met the individual or company in question.
652. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Health the progress to date on the implementation of all the 11 recommendations of the Leas Cross inquiry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41335/14]
View answerFollowing the publication of the Leas Cross Review Report referred to by the Deputy in November 2006 the Health Service Executive established a Task Force in February 2007. The Task Force finalised its report and the HSE assigned responsibility within its organisation in relation to the various recommendations made. I have asked the HSE to reply directly to the Deputy in this regard. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
However since the publication of both the Review and that of the Leas Cross Commission’s Final Report in June 2009 there have been significant developments in the nursing home sector.
The Health Act, 2007 provided for the registration and inspection of all nursing homes – public, private and voluntary. Independent inspections carried out by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), commenced on 1 July 2009. This system replaced the previous one, under which the HSE registered and inspected private nursing homes only.
This responsibility is underpinned by a comprehensive quality framework comprising the Health Act 2007, Registration Regulations (which are currently being reviewed), Care and Welfare Regulations and the National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland.
The Health Act, 2007 (Care and Welfare of Residents in Designated Centres for Older People) Regulations, 2013, replaced the 2009 Care & Welfare Regulations. These Regulations contain provisions for the purposes of ensuring proper standards of care for nursing homes and include health care planning, residents’ rights and protection from abuse. Operators must arrange comprehensive assessments of the health, personal and social care needs of residents and prepare and individualised care plan based on this assessment. The Regulations also provide for training and staff development and include requirements for the management and control of operations of nursing homes.
The aim of “The National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland” is to ensure that these quality standards are being implemented across the system and that people have confidence in them. The standards are currently being revised and up-dated.
Also in 2009 the Nursing Homes Support Scheme was introduced to address the then inequity in the treatment of public and private long-term nursing home residents and to alleviate the financial hardship being experienced by long-term residents in private nursing homes. The scheme supports individuals in need of long-term nursing home care regardless of whether they choose public, private or voluntary nursing homes.
653. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41341/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
654. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Health when a home care package will be provided in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly to enable them to return home as they are currently in hospital; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41353/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
655. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a medical card in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41355/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
656. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a fair deal application payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41360/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
657. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Health the status of an application for refund of moneys paid for a prescription in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41362/14]
View answerUnder the Health (Pricing and Supply of Medical Goods) Act 2013, the Health Service Executive (HSE) has statutory responsibility for the administration of the primary care schemes, therefore the matter has been referred to the HSE for attention and direct reply to the Deputy.
If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
658. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will expedite a hospital appointment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41366/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter, I have asked the HSE to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
662. Deputy Ciara Conway asked the Minister for Health the position regarding funding for an operation (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41385/14]
View answerAs this a service matter, I have asked the Health Service Executive to respond to you directly. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
663. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Health the reason home care packages in Lucan, County Dublin, have ceased since 5 June 2014; his plans to reinstate these home care packages; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41386/14]
View answerAs this is a service matter it has been referred to the Health Service Executive for direct reply.If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
664. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if he will provide an update on the Health Information and Quality Authority review of ambulance services; when the review will be published; when he expects the recommendations of the review will be implemented; if funding will be ring-fenced from the Health Service Executive budget 2015 to implement the recommendations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41390/14]
View answerHIQA has advised my Department that the review is nearing completion. I look forward to receiving the report, the findings of which will, I hope, inform the ongoing development and improvement of the National Ambulance Service.
665. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Health if he will provide a list of counties that do not have a full-time orthodontist; the orthodontic services currently provided for children in County Laois along with waiting times; and when a full-time orthodontist will be recruited for County Laois. [41391/14]
View answerI have asked the HSE to investigate this matter and respond to the Deputy as soon as possible. If you have not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days please contact my Private Office and they will follow up the matter with them.
666. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health the position regarding a medical card review in respect of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 13; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41396/14]
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.
If the Deputy has not received a reply from the HSE within 15 working days, please contact my Private Office who will follow up the matter with them.
