Written Answers Nos. 140-145
140. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine a situation regarding the appointment of a consultant obstetrician-gynaecologist at Kerry General Hospital, as the appointed consultant is currently engaged in agency work in other locations; if he will ensure that impediments in respect of this post are resolved at an early date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42405/14]
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.
141. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Health if he will examine the need for additional home help time in the evening in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in view of the fact that this person is wheelchair bound and requires a lot of care, attention and assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42407/14]
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 on the matter with them.
142. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Health further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 423 and 424 of 21 October 2014, the position regarding a primary care centre (details supplied) in Dublin 5; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42412/14]
View answerThe Primary Care Divisions in the Department and HSE are discussing these matters and I am hopeful that they will be progressed shortly.
143. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health his plans to introduce a combined MC1-MC1A form for medical card applicants aged over 70 years; when he envisages that this change will be introduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42420/14]
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.
144. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Health his plans to reduce the waiting times for the fair deal nursing home support scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42421/14]
View answerI 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.
The HSE controls the release of funding to manage the funds that are available across the course of the year. Funding is released to approved applicants according to their place, in order of their approval date, on the National Placement List. Over the course of the year to date, demand for funding has exceeded what could be released and the National Placement List has grown as a result.
In July this year, the HSE allocated €5m for an initiative to improve access to appropriate care for older people. To date this has funded over 300 transitional care beds for patients in acute hospitals who are on the NHSS National Placement List and over 200 home care packages to assist patients in the acute hospitals who require a home care package to be discharged.
In Budget 2015 a further €25 million has been allocated to alleviate the problem of delayed discharges. This will be applied across community and residential services to improve Placement List waiting times and to relieve the pressure in acute hospitals resulting from beds being taken up by those who no longer require acute care.
The Review of the Nursing Homes Support Scheme, which will be completed in the coming months, will include consideration of the future balance between community and residential services and the longer-term sustainability of the Scheme.
145. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Health when it is envisaged that the national dementia strategy will be published; his views on the planned implementation of the strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42423/14]
View answerIt is estimated that there are currently approximately 47,000 people with dementia in Ireland and that number is expected to increase threefold to approximately 132,000 by 2041. Accordingly, the Programme for Government contains a commitment to develop a 'National Alzheimer’s and other Dementias' Strategy to increase awareness, ensure early diagnosis and intervention and, ensure development of enhanced community based services.
A public consultation process to inform the development of the Strategy was conducted in 2012 and a report of this was published on my Department’s website in February 2013. A Working Group, representative of key stakeholders from my Department, the HSE, the medical profession and the community and voluntary sector was convened to advise on the preparation of the Strategy. Preparation of the Strategy is now at an advanced stage and the Strategy will be published in the coming months.
The Strategy will have a very practical focus, will be action oriented and will focus on what can be done to make a difference to the lives of people with dementia. Implementation will commence immediately after publication, with the initial emphasis being on actions that can be progressed within existing resources.
